Belfast riots latest: Police deploy water cannon as victim’s family condemn second night of violence – UK Times

The deputy first minister of Northern Ireland has said some people participating in violence and disorder across the country following a stabbing are “trying to manipulate a genuinely held concern” about immigration.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Emma Little-Pengelly said: “I think last night has been not as severe as it was on the previous night, that is welcome, but of course we have still seen some of that violence and disorder, and that is absolutely wrong, and we of course have been united and calling for that to stop immediately.”

She added: “What some of these elements that want to create this type of disorder and violence are trying to do is to manipulate a genuinely held concern by many people, a frustration by many people.”

Ms Little-Pengelly said the alleged attacker Hadi Alodid, 30, is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland via a number of different countries, including the Republic of Ireland.

“That is an issue that I have raised to the UK government around the concerns about that immigration coming through from the Irish Republic,” she said.

“So, of course, these need to be taken seriously. I emphasised that again yesterday when I spoke to the immigration minister, because it is bubbling. There is a frustration and anger.

“People are absolutely sick of not being listened to by the government, and I’ve said time and time again that politics must work. People must feel that the system that is in place can protect them and can protect community safety.”

Rioting broke out in Northern Ireland for a second night following a knife attack in Belfast with masked protesters lighting fires and hurling bricks at police, who responded by firing water cannons.

The chaos unfolded in Glengormley in Newtownabbey, north west Belfast, just hours after the family of the attack victim, Stephen Ogilvie, appealed for calm in the wake of the torching of homes and vehicles across the city on Tuesday.

Despite pleas from Mr Ogilvie’s family and the drafting in of 200 extra police officers to deal with any disorder, videos shared on social media first showed masked gangs attempting to march to a hotel in Glengormley, where they were met with riot police.

Pushed back down Antrim Road, the protesters dressed in black broke up parts of the pavement and the walls of suburban homes to throw objects at the police, who responded with water cannons, soaking those who got close.

In a fresh statement issued via the Police Service of Northern Ireland on Wednesday evening, Mr Ogilvie’s family said they wanted to make clear they do not support violence.

“We have been left feeling disgusted by the scenes that unfolded yesterday across Northern Ireland in the wake of what happened,” they said.

“We want to make it absolutely clear that to do this in response is not supported by our family, and peaceful protest is only ever the way forward.”

They went on to emphasise they do not want what happened to their loved one to divide people.

“We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including from within our healthcare system and hospitality sector, and we depend on them to make our country work,” they said.

“We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility – do not do this in the name of our loved one as we do not share the same values.”

The family also paid tribute to those who intervened during the attack.

“We also wish to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack,” they said.

“Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment.

“We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.”

Protesters in Northern Ireland wrought havoc for a second night on Wednesday, lighting fires and hurling bricks at police, who responded by firing water cannon.

– Most of the clashes occurred as demonstrators confronted the police around the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey to the north west of Belfast.

– Protesters were seen tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at riot police. They also took taking wheelie bins from outside homes and lit fires in them.

– Balaclava-clad rioters also broke open a metal fence to access the Sandyknowes Wastewater Pumping Station and removed a garden fence to use as a shield against the police water cannon.

– In Derry, police reported items having been set alight on the Ardmore Road.

– The family of the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, appealed for calm and said they were ‘disgusted’ by the protests. They stressed they do not want what happened to divide people.

– Earlier, suspect Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye.

A government source tells The Independent that the government will intensify immigration enforcement to track down, detain, arrest and remove illegal migrants in Northern Ireland with new investment.

They say the Home Secretary is investing £3.7bn into Immigration Enforcement activity over the next three years, including in Northern Ireland.

Investment into enforcement is to increase by over 20 per cent by 2028-29, they say.

“This will see a surge in Intelligence-led operations lead by Immigration Enforcement and Border Force along CTA routes to detect, track down, arrest and remove illegal migrants. Nearly 1,000 illegal migrants have been removed in the last year alone.”

The number of asylum seekers in supported accommodation in Northern Ireland has decreased by 6% under this Government, from 2,530 in June 2024 to 2,379 in March 2026, they say.

A Sudanese man named as Hadi Alodid has been charged over a knife attack in Northern Ireland that left one person in a serious condition in Belfast.

The 30-year-old appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost his left eye, and sustained deep cuts to his head, face and back during the alleged attack on Monday, police said.

He was also charged with threatening to kill an NHS radiographer on the same day and with the possession of a knife.

Terrorised families have been forced to flee their homes after violent and racist rioting saw migrants targeted in response to a street stabbing in Belfast.​

Several people had to risk their lives to escape their houses on Tuesday night after protests turned violent, with homes and cars set alight.

The unrest came after Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye and was left with serious neck and back injuries after he was stabbed in north Belfast on Monday night.

A “hero” bystander who bravely intervened in a knife attack in Belfast said he was trying to “protect a young lad” and was glad he stood up to the attacker.

Maitiu Mag Tighearnan has been praised for his actions after he bravely used a hurling stick to fight off a man attacking the victim, who suffered serious injuries to his eyes, neck and back, in north Belfast on Monday night.

More than £18,000 has been raised to show support for the 32-year-old father and “buy him a pint”.

In a social media post, Mr Tighearnan said he “just landed there by chance” and managed to “protect a young lad”.

The fluid arrangement between Ireland and the UK was a diplomatic fudge long before Britain left the European Union – but the violence unleashed by a knife attack has called this gentlemanly agreement into question, says Mary Dejevsky:

Social media platform X – formerly Twitter – is among those to have been contacted by the communications watchdog about online content potentially linked to scenes of violence in Belfast.

Technology secretary Liz Kendall said she had explicitly asked Ofcom to discuss with X and other platforms how they will comply with the Online Safety Act.

Elon Musk, who used his online account to promote calls for people to take to the streets in response to Monday’s knife attack, hit back at accusations he was inflaming tensions and blamed immigration policy.

Communications regulator Ofcom said some of the disorder appeared to have been incited online, adding: “This has included racially motivated incidents of violence, arson attacks on homes and vehicles, and attacks against police.”

The watchdog said it had contacted all major platforms where it believed there were “specific risks around the presence of illegal content relating to the civil unrest”.

Online service providers have duties under the Online Safety Act 2023 to “assess and mitigate the risks of illegal activity occurring on their sites and apps” – content that may include stirring up hatred or provoking violence.