Belfast has been rocked by violent riots following a knife attack that left Stephen Ogilvie in critical condition. Discover the latest developments and the community's response.
The city of Belfast has been engulfed in a wave of violence following a brutal knife attack that left a man severely injured. The incident, which occurred on Monday night, has sparked widespread unrest and riots that have continued into a second night.
The family of the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, has urged for calm as the situation escalates.
The chaos began in Glengormley, Newtownabbey, just hours after the family of Mr. Ogilvie appealed for peace. Masked protesters took to the streets, lighting fires and hurling bricks at police, who responded with water cannons.
The violence appears to be fueled by a mix of anger against immigrants and opportunistic unrest.
The knife attack and its aftermath
The knife attack took place on Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast, where emergency services were quickly called to the scene.
A man believed to be Sudanese was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Video footage shows bystanders, including one wielding a hurling stick, confronting the attacker until police arrived.
Mr. Ogilvie, aged in his 40s, suffered serious injuries, including slash wounds to his back and face, and eye injuries. The police recovered what they believed to be a kitchen knife at the scene. The suspect, Hadi Alodid, was charged with attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place, and threats to kill an NHS worker. He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court via video link and was remanded into custody to appear again on 8 July.
The riots and community response
The riots began late on Tuesday as Alodid was charged with attempted murder. The family of Mr. Ogilvie has expressed their disgust at the scenes unfolding across Northern Ireland. They emphasized the valuable contributions of migrants to the country and urged people not to use this tragedy to fuel hostility.
Local residents in Lendrick Street, which saw houses gutted after cars were set alight on Tuesday, described the violence as something that had been brewing for a while. They noted that the street was targeted because it had more foreigners than others. A pastor who has been helping those affected by the violence stated that people were being put out of their homes simply because they were black.
Political and public reactions
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer vowed to crack down on anyone fuelling the division, describing the rioting as shocking and completely unacceptable. He emphasized that those responsible would feel the full force of the law. The violence has been widely condemned by political leaders, who have called for calm and unity.
The riots have highlighted the underlying tensions in Northern Ireland, where gatherings at the Parliament Buildings in Stormont and Ulster University in Coleraine have taken place. Despite these gatherings, there has been little unrest elsewhere in the country. The situation remains fluid, with additional police officers deployed and public transport suspended in affected areas.
