Belfast rally rejects hate as thousands march after anti-immigrant riots and knife attack

A defiant gathering

Thousands of people filled the space outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday, called together by the association Unite Against Racism. They carried signs reading "Belfast opposes racism", "Fight racism, build solidarity" and "Hate is the only threat to our streets". The rally was a direct response to four days of violence that had seen masked youths target homes of ethnic minorities and clash with police.

“I am shocked, really shocked. The last few days bring us back to the dark hours of the Troubles.”

The 63-year-old protester was referring to the decades of sectarian conflict between republican and unionist communities that scarred Northern Ireland until 1998.

How the violence unfolded

The chain of events began on Monday with a knife attack on a man in Belfast. A video of the assault was shared widely on Tuesday evening, sparking riots in predominantly unionist working-class neighbourhoods. By Wednesday, the unrest had escalated into confrontations with police. Rioters, often young men in masks, singled out houses belonging to ethnic minorities.

Victim and suspect

The victim of the knife attack, Stephen Ogilvy, lost an eye. His family has asked the public and media to respect their privacy and said on Wednesday that he was in a stable condition. Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese man, was charged on Wednesday with attempted murder and brought before a judge. He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 8 July.

Mayor faces death threats

Belfast's mayor, Róis-Máire Donnelly, addressed the crowd and said she had received death threats.

“You are the Belfast I represent.”

Councilor Seamas de Faoite of the nationalist SDLP party said he was appalled by both the knife attack and the violence that followed, insisting they must be condemned and fought. The rally heard applause and cheers when a speaker paid tribute to Stephen Ogilvy.

Echoes of past unrest and social media

Northern Ireland experienced violent anti-immigrant protests in the summer of 2024 and again in June 2025, mirroring outbreaks in other parts of the United Kingdom. Some demonstrators on Saturday pointed to the role of ultra-wealthy figures. In recent days, Elon Musk heavily amplified posts by far-right activist Tommy Robinson on X, with Robinson encouraging the riots.