Police in Belfast used water cannons to disperse protesters on Wednesday. The unrest followed a violent night where demonstrators set fires and threw objects at the police.
The violence occurred after a Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court for an attempted murder charge. He allegedly stabbed Stephen Ogilvie, causing severe injury to Ogilvie’s left eye. Alodid faces additional charges, including possession of a knife and making threats against a radiographer. He declined representation and did not enter a plea.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) braced for more unrest. Masked individuals had set fires, causing multiple families to flee their homes. Some sought shelter at police stations. Upwards of two dozen persons became homeless due to the chaos. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher announced a reinforcement of 200 officers and additional support from other forces.
Politicians condemned the unrest. First Minister Michelle O’Neill termed the acts cowardly, while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly criticized targeting uninvolved people. Ogilvie’s family urged for peace and acknowledged the valuable contributions of migrants.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the violence unacceptable, emphasizing the necessity of condemning such actions.
The stabbing has reignited discussions about Northern Ireland’s open border with the Republic of Ireland. Some suggest reconsideration of free movement, a keystone of the peace agreements that ended “The Troubles.”
Earlier protests stemmed from an unrelated case in Southampton, England, where a university student was fatally stabbed. The incident was misrepresented and used by some to promote anti-immigrant sentiments. Convicted killer Vickrum Digwa had falsely claimed he was the victim of a racial attack by the victim, Henry Nowak.