Penny Wong has called on leaders to “stand against violence” as anti-immigration protests rip through Northern Ireland. Masked men reportedly set fire to homes, cars, and a bus overnight as protests in Belfast, the capital of the restive UK country, entered a third day. The unrest was triggered by a knife attack on June 8 allegedly committed by a 30-year-old Sudanese man, and comes amid a rise in anti-immigration sentiment and support for the right-wing Reform party.In the United Kingdom for bilateral meetings with European leaders, the Foreign Affairs Minister was asked what needed to happen so scenes coming out of Belfast were not replicated in Australia. “Well, first, I would make the point that all leaders need to stand against violence,” she said.“Whatever our differences of view, whatever policy discussion, whatever the argument we have about what should or shouldn’t happen, violence is never acceptable. “All political leaders of all parties should always put that view. So, let’s start with that.”On Wednesday, Labor Senator Raff Ciccone described images out of Belfast as “horrific”.“Particularly when we’re waking up this morning to see (this) on our TV screens,” he told Sky News.Senator Ciccone said he felt for the victim and his family, and that police would investigate the “horrific and gruesome” alleged attack. “But, quite frankly, you know, we’ve had a discussion in this country around the need for calm, for national unity, particularly when there are worldwide events that are occurring right now and for many months and years around social cohesion,” he said. “It’s so important, and being a centrepiece about the conversations that the government has been having for some time now.“We’ve got to get down and tackle the root causes of why people decide that it’s okay to conduct these horrific attacks against one of their own and against other citizens, other people in our society. “It’s not just a unique problem in Australia or in Northern Ireland. It’s unfortunate that we are seeing a lot more of these cases around the world.”