Belfast stabbing victim’s family condemn riots and say ‘unrest is unwelcome’
The family of a Belfast stabbing victim have condemned violent riots in which homes were set on fire and families forced to flee as “unwelcome”.
Relatives of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in the attack on Monday night, said they were “horrified” by the attack but did not want it to fuel division after migrant families were targeted by rioters.
They defended the immigrants, who they said had “made an invaluable contribution” to Northern Ireland, and called for peaceful protests to be the way forward.
The intervention came after cars were set on fire as tensions over immigration flared, with the alleged attacker Hadi Alodid, 30, revealed to be an asylum seeker who had come to the UK from Sudan.
Two police officers were injured and three people were arrested in the clashes, but security minister Dan Jarvis warned “more will certainly follow”.
The PSNI said a 39-year-old man arrested in Newtownabbey on Tuesday night was charged with rioting and a 42-year-old man was charged with rioting, attempted criminal damage and assault on a person identified by police.
Police are bracing for further unrest and deployed an extra 200 officers to the streets on Wednesday night to help keep the community safe.
It came like this:
- Sir Keir Starmer said the violence seen in Belfast was “completely unjustified” and that leaders were united in calls for calm and determined to restore order.
- Alodid appeared in court on charges of attempting to murder Mr Ogilvie, as well as threatening to kill an NHS radiographer and possessing a knife.
- Belfast Mayor Sinn Féin Róis-Máire Donnelly said police warned him after the attack that “threats had been made against my life”
- Transport operator Translink canceled all buses after 5pm and train services after 6pm on Wednesday “due to anticipated protests”
- Schools in Northern Ireland will decide later today whether to close amid threats of further unrest
In a statement issued through Phillip Brett, DUP member of the Northern Ireland assembly, Mr Ogilvie’s family said: “We are aware of the tensions and talk of protest following this incident.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome and peaceful protest is the only way forward.
“We have many immigrants who make invaluable contributions to our country, including our healthcare system and hospitality industry, and we rely on them to make our country work.
“We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or incite hostility.”
Race riots in Belfast following the stabbing attack saw gangs of masked men set fire to homes, a bus and cars, and people were targeted based on their race.
Police fear further violence following the stabbing, which was captured on video and shared widely online, with high-profile social media accounts using the incident to call for protests.
Suspect Hadi Alodid appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning in connection with the attack, which left Mr Ogilvie with deep cuts to his head, face and back.
District judge Stephen Keown refused bail after hearing police fear there would be “serious public upheaval” if he was released because there was “strong public feeling” about the incident.
Alodid was taken into custody and will appear in court in four weeks.
The judge warned that anyone planning to take part in further unrest in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to jail” and said the courts “will not tolerate” any attacks on emergency services.
A Glider bus was set on fire in east Belfast on Tuesday night and several cars were set on fire in Lendrick Street. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service officers had to evacuate some residents from homes after the fire broke out.
Several houses and vehicles were set on fire near Belfast’s Ligoniel Road, while a police car was set on fire in Portadown. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said police rescued “many” families, including a two-month-old baby.
He condemned those who took part in the disorder, which he said was “a massive act of self-harm by mindless fools who are actually only harming their own future.”
He vowed to quell further unrest and pleaded: “This must stop. Please, no more.”
Anselme Shima, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and lives near Lendrick Street with his wife, two sons and daughter, said it was a “very scary moment” for his family.
He said: “It’s a terrible moment, we don’t know what to do. I’m scared. When I see this, I wonder if it’s my turn. If this happens again, will my house be attacked next? I don’t know.”
Monday’s stabbing was captured on video and shows a man stabbing the victim in the head and neck as he lay on the ground.
The clip shows people, including one, intervening to stop the attack in the residential area of Kinnaird Avenue near the busy Antrim Road.
In a statement, Mr Ogilvie’s family said they were “completely devastated” by the attack and offered a “deep gratitude” to those who intervened.
“Your quick actions absolutely saved his life and we will never forget what you did for him at that moment,” they said.
The Prime Minister said the rioting in Belfast was “shocking and completely unacceptable”.
“It’s clear that people were targeted last night because of their past, and I will not tolerate that,” he said. “Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.”
Police forces in the UK are monitoring intelligence on the protests and have plans in place to allow officers to take action should unrest escalate further.
Online posts from people including billionaire Elon Musk, boss of social media platform X, and far-right activist Tommy Robinson, highlighted demands for people to take to the streets.
Northern Ireland justice minister Naomi Long said social media agitators who “had trouble finding Belfast on a map yesterday” were “reinforcing the fear that people really have about what’s going on”.
