A 30-year-old Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, stabbed a man in his 40s in North Belfast on June 8, causing serious injuries including wounds to the eye, face, and back [1, 2, 3]. The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, lost his left eye and remains hospitalized [2, 4, 5].

Alodid, who was granted asylum in the UK in September 2023 after entering via Paris and Dublin earlier that year, was arrested and charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a bladed weapon [1, 2, 6]. He was remanded in custody after having bail refused at his arraignment in Belfast Magistrates Court the following day, with the next hearing scheduled for July 8 [3, 7].

Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson called the attack a "major incident" and a "deliberate attempt to murder," saying he understood the event stirred “a range of emotions from fear to anger” among the public [1, 8].

The stabbing was recorded on video and widely shared on social media, inflaming tensions and sparking violent protests by anti-immigrant groups and far-right activists, including Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, who were accused of stoking the unrest [2, 3, 7]. Rioters, some masked, set fire to vehicles and homes, forcing families to flee. Roads were blocked and clashes with police extended over multiple nights, with officers using water cannons to disperse the crowds [9, 6, 10].

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill condemned the violence as "disgusting cowardly acts" and called for calm, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described both the stabbing and the street violence as "disgusting" and "unacceptable" [9, 7]. Stephen Ogilvie’s family urged peaceful protest only, warning against division or hatred and highlighting immigrants’ contributions to the UK [2, 5].

Opposing voices criticized social media platforms for fueling unrest, with Labour's Anna Turley blaming figures including Elon Musk, who tweeted, "Only constant, loud protest will bring change!" [7].

On June 13, about 3,000 people gathered in Belfast to protest racism and right-wing violence linked to the stabbing and riots, with Belfast Mayor Rois-Maire Donnelly stating, "Our city is stronger because of our diversity" [11].

The case against Alodid will continue with the next court hearing on July 8, as police maintain heightened patrols amid ongoing community tensions [3].