Anti-immigrant protests in Belfast enter second night, Romanian families targeted in wave of violence

What triggered the unrest

A knife attack on the night of 9 June in Belfast left Stephen Ogilvie, 40, without his left eye and hospitalized. The accused attacker, Hadi Alodid, a 30‑year‑old Sudanese national who arrived in Northern Ireland in 2023 and held a residence permit valid until 2028, was charged with attempted murder on 10 June. Police have not found a terrorist motive so far.

From demonstration to destruction

Hours after the attack, protests erupted in loyalist Protestant areas of the city. By the first night, hundreds of masked people, some as young as nine, had taken to the streets, setting cars, a bus, and residential buildings ablaze. An Arab‑owned shop was torched, and emergency services struggled to reach the scene. The second night brought renewed violence, with riot police facing crowds throwing bricks and Molotov cocktails.

It started as if people were simply marching, boys aged between nine and twenty. All were dressed in black and wore masks.

When I got there, it was awful: four fire engines, police in riot gear, a crowd of men standing, masked, with bricks in their hands.

Romanians caught in the crossfire

Three Romanian families living in Belfast saw their homes vandalised during the first wave of violence. Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the families are safe but want to return to Romania as soon as possible. The Consulate General in Edinburgh is assisting them; one parent has already requested an emergency travel document for a minor child. No Romanian casualties have been reported.

It is clear people were targeted because of their origin, which I will not tolerate.

Far‑right amplification

Elon Musk amplified a post on X by Tommy Robinson, a British far‑right activist, that listed protest locations and called for people to take to the streets. Musk added, “Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will change come!!” Northern Ireland’s justice minister, Naomi Long, condemned the violence as “racism” and criticised those who exploited fears on social media. Three people have been arrested so far, and UK security minister Dan Jarvis promised further detentions.

A city scarred

Beyond Belfast, smaller protests flared in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Southampton. In Glasgow, worshippers were trapped inside the Central Mosque for their safety. Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director said schools reported many empty desks on 10 June because parents feared sending children to class.

Many families lost their homes… they became a target because of their skin colour, presumed country of origin or faith.