Belfast Anti-Immigrant Riots Erupt After Knife Attack, Families Burned Out
Following a knife attack on Stephen Ogilvie by Sudanese national Hadi Alodid in Belfast, violent anti-immigrant riots erupted, with masked men burning migrant families out of their homes and torching vehicles. The victim’s family appealed for calm, praising migrants’ contributions. UK PM Keir Starmer condemned the “racist thuggery,” and police deployed water cannons. Three arrests were made, with more expected. Politicians described the attacks as a “21st century pogrom” and organized racial violence.
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UK Minister Condemns Racist Violence After Belfast Knife Attack
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned 'racist thuggery' following riots in east Belfast after a knife attack. Hadi Alodid, 30, was charged with attempted murder for stabbing Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye. In the aftermath, migrant families were burned out of their homes in what was described as a '21st century pogrom'. Benn stated that targeting people based on skin color is racist thuggery, and reported that ethnic minorities are being stopped in cars and asked their nationality. Stephen Ogilvie's family issued a statement appealing for calm, praising migrants' contributions to society, and rejecting violence in their name. They emphasized that peaceful protest is the only way forward and urged against using the tragedy to divide people or fuel hostility.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)UK Minister Condemns Racist Violence After Belfast Knife Attack
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned 'racist thuggery' after riots erupted in east Belfast following a knife attack. Hadi Alodid, 30, was charged with attempted murder after victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye. In the aftermath, migrant families were burned out of their homes in what was described as a '21st century pogrom'. Benn stated that targeting people based on skin color is racist thuggery, and reported that ethnic minorities are being stopped in cars and asked their nationality. Stephen Ogilvie's family issued a statement appealing for calm, praising migrants' contributions to society, and explicitly rejecting violence in their name.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Belfast Knife Attack Victim's Family Praises Migrants as Violence Erupts Again
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, victim of a knife attack in Belfast, issued a statement praising migrants' 'deeply valuable contribution' to society and condemning the violent protests that erupted in Northern Ireland following the incident. Police deployed water cannons on protesters in County Antrim after they threw bricks and attempted to march to a hotel housing migrants. The violence followed an alleged knife attack by Sudanese man Hadi Alodid, 30, who was charged with attempted murder. Ogilvie lost an eye in the attack. The family urged that the tragedy not be used to divide people or fuel hostility. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage appeared to dismiss the family's appeal, arguing that the public is fearful and wants action on immigration and street safety.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Belfast Knife Attack Victim's Family Praises Migrants as Violence Erupts Again
Violence erupted again in Northern Ireland following a knife attack in Belfast. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, lost an eye in the attack; suspect Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged with attempted murder. Ogilvie's family issued a statement praising migrants' 'deeply valuable contribution' to society and condemning the violent protests, saying they do not want the tragedy to be used to divide people. Police deployed water cannons in County Antrim after protesters threw bricks. Dozens of masked men tore up paving stones to throw at riot police, and protesters attempted to march to a hotel housing migrants. The unrest follows families being burned out of their homes in what has been described as a '21st century pogrom.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed the family's appeal for calm, arguing that the public is fearful and wants action on immigration and crime.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Labour MP Calvin Bailey: Belfast Riots Are 'Organised, Racialised Attacks' on Ethnic Minorities
Labour MP Calvin Bailey has condemned two nights of riots in Belfast as 'organised, racialised attacks' on ethnic minorities, following a stabbing incident on Monday night. The violence, which saw migrant families burned out of their homes in what has been described as a '21st century pogrom', erupted after an alleged knife attack by Sudanese man Hadi Alodid, 30, who has been charged with attempted murder. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, lost an eye. Despite Ogilvie's family urging peaceful protest and warning against using the tragedy to divide people or fuel hostility, police were forced to deploy water cannon on Wednesday night to disperse rioters. Bailey stated on BBC's Newsnight that the violence should not be framed as protest, emphasizing the racialized nature of the attacks.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Labour MP Calvin Bailey: Belfast Riots Are 'Organised, Racialised Attacks' on Ethnic Minorities
Labour MP Calvin Bailey has condemned two nights of riots in Belfast as 'organised, racialised attacks' on ethnic minorities, following a stabbing incident on Monday night. The violence, which saw migrant families burned out of their homes in what has been described as a '21st century pogrom', erupted after an alleged knife attack by a Sudanese man. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court charged with attempted murder; the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, lost an eye. Despite the victim's family calling for peaceful protest and warning against using the tragedy to divide people, rioters clashed with police, who deployed water cannon. Bailey insisted the unrest is not legitimate protest but targeted racial violence.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Northern Irish police use water cannon on second night of protests after stabbing
Police in Northern Ireland deployed water cannon for a second consecutive night to disperse crowds in Belfast, as UK authorities blamed far-right activists for inflaming tensions on social media following a brutal stabbing. The unrest, which also spread to Glasgow, Scotland, saw rioters throw missiles, set fires, and target foreign nationals. A Sudanese refugee, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court charged with attempted murder after the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in the attack. Twenty-seven people were made homeless after rioters went door-to-door targeting foreign nationals. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence as 'shocking and completely unacceptable.' Police arrested three people in Northern Ireland and three in Glasgow. Authorities warned that sharing personal information online with intent to endanger others may be a criminal offense.
EuractivMigrant Families Burned Out of Homes in Belfast After Knife Attack; Starmer Vows Justice
Violent riots erupted in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 9-10, 2026, following a knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye. Suspect Hadi Alodid, 30, was charged with attempted murder. During protests, masked men targeted ethnic minority families, setting several homes on fire in what politicians described as a '21st century pogrom.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the racist violence, stating perpetrators 'will feel the full force of the law.' Northern Ireland's justice minister Naomi Long accused social media agitators of weaponizing fear. Three people have been arrested, with more expected. The Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice condemned the violence but criticized Starmer's broader policies. Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party blamed right-wing politicians Nigel Farage and Rupert Lowe for whipping up hatred.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Migrant Families Burned Out of Homes in Belfast After Knife Attack; Starmer Vows Justice
Violent riots erupted in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday night following a brutal knife attack on Monday. Migrant families were targeted and burned out of their homes in what politicians are calling a '21st century pogrom.' Hadi Alodid, 30, has been charged with attempted murder for the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the racist violence, stating perpetrators 'will feel the full force of the law.' Security minister Dan Jarvis called the targeting of ethnic minorities 'sickening.' Three people have been arrested, with more expected. Social media agitators were accused of weaponizing fear. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is bracing for further protests. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice condemned the violence but criticized Starmer's broader policies, while Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party accused right-wing politicians of whipping up hatred.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Belfast Knife Attack Victim's Family Appeals for Calm Amid Anti-Immigrant Violence
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in a knife attack in Belfast, appealed for calm after the incident sparked anti-immigrant violence. Masked men burned families out of their homes and torched vehicles in overnight unrest. A Sudanese national, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court charged with attempted murder and was remanded in custody. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Northern Irish politicians condemned the violence by 'masked thugs' targeting ethnic minorities. The family urged peaceful protest, emphasizing the valuable contribution of migrants. The violence follows heightened tensions in Britain over immigration and a recent murder case involving false allegations of a racist attack.
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