The Sudanese suspect charged with attempted murder over the Belfast knife attack was named for the first time as he appeared in court today. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court this morning over Monday’s attack, which saw victim Stephen Ogilvie lose his left eye and suffer severe damage to his right eye, as well as deep cuts to his head, face and back.
He refused legal representation and made no reply to charges of attempted murder, having a bladed article and making a threat to kill, which were put to him through an Arabic interpreter. Alodid was remanded in custody and is next due to appear in court in four weeks’ time.
Judge’s Warning
Judge Stephen Keown commended the emergency services who came to the aid of the victim and warned anyone planning further disorder should ‘be prepared to go to prison’. He said that emergency services who had helped the victim now coming ‘under attack is something the courts won’t tolerate’.
The judge noted that there is a call on social media for men aged over 18 to close streets, wear dark clothes and to be prepared to fight and be arrested. He said that anyone involved in attacks on the community and members of the community can ‘also expect to go to prison, and that message should be sent out loud and clear’.
Riots Erupt in Belfast
Riots erupted on Tuesday night in Belfast after calls to protest from far-right accounts circulated on social media. Houses and cars were set on fire, as was a Gilder bus in the east of the city, prompting public transport services to be suspended. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said a two-month-old baby was rescued during the disorder.
He told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster: ‘Last night we rescued so many families. Taking families – a baby as young as two months – out of their address to safety, taking them to police stations.’ He added: ‘And by the way, these weren’t just families from ethnic minority communities, these were families from across communities that were caught up in this vile behaviour last night. There is absolutely no excuse for it.’
Political Condemnation
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘The scenes in Belfast last night were shocking and completely unacceptable. There is no justification for the violence and disorder that we saw threatening our communities, nor for those who encouraged it, online or elsewhere. It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it. Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.’
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the ‘outright thuggery’ in the city, adding: ‘Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice.’ Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: ‘Taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong.’
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long said social media agitators who ‘yesterday would have struggled to find Belfast on a map’ were ‘weaponising the fear that people genuinely have about what happened’. ‘Because, ultimately, if you’re driving people from their homes based on nothing but the colour of their skin, you can’t dress that up any other way, it’s racism, and those bad faith actors need to take a step back,’ Ms Long told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Police Response
Police forces across the UK are monitoring intelligence on protests and have plans in place to allow them to mobilise officers if needed should further disorder break out in the wake of the stabbing and the murder of Henry Nowak. A spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council said: ‘Police are closely monitoring intelligence and information on protest activity to ensure a swift and decisive response to any reports of public disorder. We have well-established plans in place to enable us to mobilise officers at a regional and national level if required.’
The PSNI has launched a ‘critical incident’ in response to the incident. Detectives have said there is no indication Monday’s knife attack was terror-related. Footage of the incident shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the Kinnaird Avenue residential area close to the busy Antrim Road.
The Home Office previously confirmed the suspect entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border in February 2023, having flown to Dublin from Paris. He claimed asylum upon arrival and in September 2023 was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
