On Monday evening (June 8), a knife attack incident occurred in Belfast, Northern Ireland, triggering a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment among the locals. The suspect appeared in court on Wednesday (June 10).
The victim, 40-year-old Stephen Ogilvy, who is disabled, suffered permanent loss of his left eye, damage to his right eye, knife wounds to his neck and back, as well as severe facial lacerations as a result of the attack. Currently, the victim is still in the hospital undergoing treatment.
The suspect is 30-year-old Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, charged with attempted murder of Ogilvy, possession of a knife in a public place, and threatening to kill a radiologist. It was reported that after the attack, the suspect, while being treated for injuries to his hand, threatened to kill the radiologist.
Alodid entered the UK in 2023, applied for asylum, and was granted residency in September 2023 (valid for 5 years until 2028).
The suspect has been remanded in custody for 4 weeks and appeared in court via video link on Wednesday (June 10). The next court appearance is scheduled for July 8, still via video link.
Eyewitnesses captured videos of the incident at the scene, showing the entire attack process. The police confirmed that this was not terrorism-related and are investigating the motive of the suspect. The police stated that there are no other suspects involved and have classified the case as a major incident.
On Tuesday night, violent anti-immigrant incidents erupted in Belfast, with houses, cars, and a bus being set on fire.
According to BBC reports, in one area, hundreds of masked men were seen carrying bottles and bricks, setting fire to trash cans, and chanting “foreigners out.”
In Belfast, an African family that had lived in the area for 20 years relocated after their windows were smashed; simultaneously, a Ukrainian girl escaped from her home after her front door was set on fire.
During the violent events on Tuesday, two police officers were injured, and an additional 200 officers are being sent to support the police in Northern Ireland.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Ogilvy’s family expressed their complete devastation at the “terrorizing attack.”
The family stated, “This has brought immense shock to our entire family. At this moment, our sole focus is to stand by his bedside, accompany and assist him in his recovery.”
They also expressed gratitude to the local residents who “bravely intervened” during the attack.
They said, “Your swift actions undoubtedly saved his life, and we will never forget everything you did for him in that moment.”
Furthermore, the family also thanked the healthcare personnel and emergency response teams who have been caring for him.
The victim’s family noted the tense situation and rumors of protests sparked by the incident.
“We want to make it clear that we do not welcome nighttime riots; peaceful protests are the only way forward,” the statement said. “We have many immigrants who have made invaluable contributions to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality industry, and we rely on them to keep the country running.”
They stated that they do not wish for this “terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or incite hostility.”
Translink, the operating company, announced that bus and rail services throughout Northern Ireland will be suspended later on Wednesday.
According to the latest statement, “There will be no buses departing after 5 pm, and no trains departing after 6 pm.”
“Suspending services is always the last resort, but the safety of passengers and staff is always our top priority. We aim to notify everyone as early as possible so they can make the necessary arrangements,” the statement said.
“We plan to resume normal services tomorrow morning and encourage passengers to check the latest travel information via Translink’s social media channels and Journey Planner app,” the statement added.