Two firefighters who were putting out fires started during the Belfast riots were caught fighting one another yesterday. The scuffle was filmed by a Sky News helicopter during a live broadcast as a second day of violence gripped the Northern Irish capital.
As smoke billowed from a nearby lorry, the pair were seen standing at the rear of a fire engine, squabbling. They shoved one another and bashed helmets, even as their colleagues were extinguishing fires around them. After zooming in on the fire and firefighters hosing it down, the camera panned back to show the men still fighting. Another firefighter then intervened and pulled them apart.
Violence Erupts After Attack
The confrontation happened as Belfast was roiled once again by violence ignited by the attack on Stephen Ogilvie on Monday. Ogilvie, in his 40s, lost his left eye and suffered severe damage to his right eye, as well as deep cuts to his head, face and back. Hadi Alodid, 30, was charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with a blade in a public place and threats to kill. He appeared in court yesterday and is currently being held in custody.
Sporadic bursts of violence erupted across Belfast on Tuesday night after footage of the attack was shared online by far-right figures. Masked rioters torched cars and a city bus and used bins engulfed in flames to create roadblocks. Immigrant families were forced to flee from their homes, some of which had been set on fire. Similar scenes occurred yesterday when balaclava-clad demonstrators ripped bricks from homes and used sledgehammers to crack paving stones.
Public Transport Suspended
Public transport was suspended and some local businesses and schools closed early, fearing further violence. At least 12 officers were injured and 16 people were arrested. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described the days-long violence as 'racist thuggery'. He told Sky News: 'Well, if you are targeting people on the basis of the colour of their skin how else can you describe them? That is racist thuggery, there's no question about it at all.'
