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Anti-immigrant riots erupted in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday night, a day after a Sudanese asylum seeker was charged with attempted murder over a knife attack that left a man seriously injured. Hundreds of masked protesters set fire to vehicles and buildings, blocked roads, and forced some families to flee their homes, according to multiple reports. Political leaders condemned the violence and appealed for calm, while anti-racism rallies were held in response.
Coverage comparison
Reports from several outlets, including Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, and RFI, described the unrest as unfolding on Tuesday evening, with protesters gathering at various locations across Belfast. A bus and several cars were set alight, and a building near the city centre caught fire, forcing residents to evacuate. Police helicopters patrolled overhead as officers responded to multiple incidents, and some shops closed early, according to Al Jazeera and RFI.
The violence spread beyond Belfast, with crowds also gathering in Antrim, about 25 kilometres west of the capital, as reported by Al Jazeera and RFI. Deutsche Welle noted that unrest also broke out in other UK cities, including Bangor, Glasgow, and London, and that people were targeted because of the colour of their skin.
The suspect, identified in several reports as Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee, appeared in court on Wednesday via video link and was ordered to be held in jail. He was charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed weapon in a public place, and making threats to kill, according to reports from Deutsche Welle, Fox News, and others. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, a man in his 40s, suffered serious injuries to his face, neck, back, and eyes, including the loss of his left eye, as reported by Fox News and The Hindu.
According to police and the UK Home Office, Alodid arrived in the UK in 2023 via Paris and Dublin, applied for asylum, and was granted permission to remain until 2028. Northern Ireland police chief Jon Boutcher said the suspect had no record on national security databases, as reported by Africa News and The Hindu.
The stabbing was captured in graphic video that went viral on social media, sparking outrage and calls for protests from far-right figures, including Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), whose posts were amplified by tech billionaire Elon Musk, according to Deutsche Welle and The Guardian.
Key claims
- The knife attack occurred on Monday night in north Belfast, and the victim was seriously injured. The weapon used was a kitchen knife, according to police, as reported by Africa News and Fox News.
- The suspect, Hadi Alodid, was charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article, and making threats to kill. He appeared in court on Wednesday and did not enter a plea, refusing legal representation, according to Deutsche Welle and Fox News.
- Rioters set fire to a bus, cars, and buildings, including homes. Firefighters received 256 calls within five hours and responded to 62 incidents, as reported by The Hindu and Jerusalem Post.
- Some families were forced to leave their homes under police protection, and three houses were destroyed by fire, according to reports from The Hindu and The Guardian.
- Two police officers were injured during the disorder, as reported by The Hindu.
- Political leaders, including Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the violence and called for calm, with O'Neill describing it as "disgusting cowardice" and Starmer calling it "shocking and unacceptable," as reported by multiple outlets.
- Anti-racism rallies took place in Belfast and Derry on Saturday, with protesters carrying signs such as "Belfast stands against racism" and "Hate is the only threat to our streets," as reported by Al Jazeera.