Belfast Erupts in Flames After Sudanese Knife Attack

The unrest was triggered by a savage assault on a local man in a residential street of the Northern Irish capital, according to Nius. The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese national with indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, allegedly inflicted severe stab wounds to his victim’s face, neck, and back. He has been charged with attempted murder.

The victim, identified as Stephen Ogilvie, remains in serious condition in hospital. Media reports indicate that Ogilvie lived in the same social housing block as his attacker.

Video footage of the attack spread rapidly across the internet, sparking widespread outrage. By evening, hundreds of people had gathered in Belfast despite calls for calm from political leaders. The situation quickly deteriorated as protests turned violent.

Masked Rioters Set Buildings Ablaze

Residential homes and vehicles were set on fire across multiple streets, forcing residents to evacuate their properties. An oriental supermarket and a city bus were also torched during the chaos. Police vehicles came under attack from rioters as the violence spread.

According to the BBC, groups of masked men moved through residential areas, damaging properties and shouting that they wanted to drive out foreigners. Reports suggest that checkpoints were established where vehicles were stopped and searched for foreign occupants, with migrants allegedly being threatened.

Government Condemns Violence

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill issued a strong condemnation of the riots. She described groups of masked men forcing families from their homes and setting fire to properties as nothing short of despicable cowards.

The violence was not confined to Belfast. In County Antrim, a Turkish barbershop was vandalized. Anti-immigration protests also took place in several British cities including London, Glasgow, and Southampton.

With information from Nius