The violent disturbances occurred in a nationalist area yet played out against a backdrop of union jacks

As the racially motivated violence unfolded in Northern Ireland this week, a striking dissonanace could be seenbehind the mobs and flames and smoke.

The knife attack that triggered the disturbances occurred in a nationalist area yet the mayhem played out against a backdrop of union jacks and loyalist murals.

As with so many stories, the outbreak of violence this week in Belfast can be told through the lens of a single street. Lendrick Street is in the east of the Northern Irish city. A straight line of barely 200 meters. Modest two-story brick houses, aligned in that Georgian style where only the door and windows mark the different homes that occupy the continuous walls on both sides of the road.

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Figures suggest common travel area being used in both directions, but particularly UK to Ireland

Up to 90% of asylum seekers in Ireland may have entered the country via the Northern Ireland land border in the last three years, figures suggest.

Irish government data shows the common travel area (CTA) is being exploited in both directions but suggests it may be more popular for those seeking asylum in Ireland than in the UK.

After nights of violence across Belfast this week, politicians continue to call for calm, but what else can be done to stop the violence spreading? Plus, Jessica Elgot has been to Makerfield and spoken to undecided voters on the doorstep

The full list of candidates for the Makerfield byelection:

Como con tantos relatos, la violencia desatada esta semana en Belfast se puede contar con la historia de una calle. Lendrick Street está en la zona este de la ciudad norirlandesa. Una línea recta de apenas 200 metros. Casas humildes de dos alturas, de ladrillo a la vista, alineadas con ese estilo georgiano por el que solo la puerta y las ventanas indican que son viviendas diferentes las que habitan esos muros continuos que son los dos lados de la calle.

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The Guardian reporter Hannah Al-Othman on the anti-immigrant rioting in Northern Ireland and the residents afraid for their lives

Stella and Sumayah are housemates. Both care workers and students from Uganda, they live together in west Belfast.

On Tuesday night, the riots across the city came to their street. The neighbouring houses were set on fire, smoke was coming through the door, masked men were outside.