Belfast police use water cannon for second night as anti-immigrant riots spread after Sudanese refugee charged with knife attack

The attack that sparked outrage

On Monday evening, a knife attack in Belfast left Stephen Ogilvie hospitalised in a stable condition with the loss of an eye. The suspect, Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese refugee, was arrested and charged with attempted murder. He appeared in court on Wednesday, refused legal representation, and was remanded in custody. Alodid’s residence permit is valid until 2028; he arrived in Northern Ireland in 2023 from the Republic of Ireland, having previously travelled from Paris.

Protests turn violent again

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 people gathered at several points across Belfast, some peacefully. Tension flared in Glengormley, north of the city, where police used a water cannon after demonstrators threw bricks, bottles and other projectiles, and set at least one bin on fire. The city centre was spared the disorder seen the previous night, when a bus was torched. Many shops and restaurants closed early and streets emptied as the evening wore on.

Political and far-right response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the riots as 

“shocking”

. Far-right activist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and US billionaire Elon Musk amplified calls to protest. Islamophobic graffiti appeared on walls and metal shutters in the area where the bus had been burned.

Authorities warn social media platforms

Ofcom, the UK media regulator, reminded platforms of their legal obligations after accusations that online content had stoked anger. Police cautioned that sharing addresses of foreign nationals could constitute a criminal offence. Reinforcements from other parts of the United Kingdom are expected to arrive on Thursday.

Community reactions

Residents expressed shock and sorrow. One 28-year-old woman said she found the scenes “just sad”. Another local said she understood the protesters’ anger but regretted that “foreigners” were now being painted with the same brush. The family of the victim described the violence as “disgusted” in a statement released through the police.