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A vehicle that has been burned stands in front of a boarded-up house, following anti-immigrant protests sparked by a knife attack on June 8. The attack left a man critically injured, prompting police to declare a major incident on Lendrick Street in East Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 10, 2026. — Reuters
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, a man who lost an eye in the knife assault, urged for calm on Wednesday after the violence against immigrants escalated overnight in Belfast. Masked individuals set fire to homes and torched vehicles in various parts of the city.
This appeal coincided with the court appearance of a Sudanese man charged with attempted murder, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Northern Irish politicians condemned the violence carried out by masked attackers targeting ethnic minorities.
Several hundred protesters, many with faces obscured, clashed with police and set vehicles ablaze late Tuesday after a video of the stabbing attack went viral online.
Ogilvie’s family emphasized the importance of peaceful protest, stating, “We want to make it very clear that unrest overnight is not acceptable, and that peaceful solutions are the way forward.” They highlighted the valuable contributions of many immigrants and expressed hope that the tragedy would not divide communities or incite hostility.
In Parliament in London, Starmer acknowledged the severity of the incident but condemned the violence, asserting that “expelling people from their homes is not the answer,” and that law enforcement would pursue justice for all involved.
The suspect, Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese national, appeared in court on Wednesday and was remanded into custody. Ogilvie, a man in his 40s, sustained serious injuries to his face and back, according to court records.
Videos capturing the attack circulated online throughout Tuesday, prompting social media calls for violent protests. Police had to assist one family evacuate their burning house. Several cars and a bus were torched and reduced to wreckage. Local officials and a community pastor mentioned that many of those targeted were Black residents.
Jamie Corry, a 33-year-old local, recalled watching helplessly as his house went up in flames. “I stood there as my entire home burned slowly but surely,” he said. “I told them, ‘That’s my property!’ but they didn’t seem to care.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the violence, calling the actions of the masked individuals “nothing less than disgusting cowardice.” The incident, which is not currently being classified as terrorism, occurs amid heightened tensions in Britain following the murder of a student who died from stabbing wounds after police falsely alleged he was involved in a racial attack.
The unrest follows ongoing protests over immigration policies, with populist parties arguing that the country’s asylum system admits dangerous individuals. Tech billionaire Elon Musk shared numerous messages criticizing the situation in the UK after the Belfast violence.
Naomi Long, Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, told Reuters that malicious actors, previously unable to locate the province on a map, have exploited fears and anger surrounding the stabbing to target individuals with the same skin color. Following calls from Musk, anti-immigrant activist Tommy Robinson, and others for further protests, police have increased patrols with an additional 200 officers deployed to maintain order.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher remarked that the violence extended beyond ethnic minorities and affected broader society. Belfast pastor Jack McKee shared that long-standing residents were being displaced solely because of their race.
The recent outbreak of violence in Northern Ireland reflects a troubling trend in the UK, where crimes—often attributed to migrants—have incited anti-immigrant rallies and protests. Historically, Northern Ireland has had low migration levels due to decades of conflict between Catholic Irish nationalists seeking Irish unity and Protestant pro-British loyalists wishing to remain in the UK, along with military presence.
However, recent years have seen an uptick in migration, fueling adverse sentiments both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The 2021 census reported that 96.6% of Northern Ireland’s population was white, while police data indicated record-high racist incident reports in 2025. Last year, anti-immigrant riots erupted over allegations of sexual assault, though charges against two minors were later dropped.
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