A knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night left a Scottish man, Stephen Ogilvy, fighting for his life after losing an eye. Within hours, masked gangs were burning homes and cars in Protestant areas, chanting anti-immigrant slogans. By Wednesday, rioters were throwing bricks and petrol bombs at police in a second night of unrest. Here is what happened, and why it matters.
The violence began after Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker, was charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife following the attack on Stephen Ogilvy. Ogilvy, who is in his 40s, remains in hospital with serious injuries to his face, neck and back. The suspect was remanded in custody for four weeks.
“Explaining the anti-immigration riots in Belfast after a knife attack, the far-right influence, and what it means for the UK.”
Hours after the attack, far-right figures including Elon Musk, Tommy Robinson and Rupert Lowe encouraged protests on social media. Musk shared lists of potential protest locations and retweeted Lowe’s call that “millions must go” over a screenshot of the stabbing. On Tuesday night, hundreds of people gathered in Belfast, with some masked men forcing open doors, setting buildings alight and shouting “foreigners out”. Homes and businesses owned by Muslims, Hindus and Ukrainians were targeted. A two-month-old baby had to be rescued, a pensioner with dementia was hospitalised, and families who had lived in the area for decades were forced to flee.
The disorder spread beyond Belfast to towns like Portadown. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland appealed for calm, saying officers were responding to incidents across the region. Despite the violence, there was no evidence of organised paramilitary involvement – protests were mobilised through social media.
Northern Ireland has a long history of sectarian violence between Protestant loyalists and Catholic nationalists. But the recent riots mark a shift: traditional anti-Catholic sentiment is merging with the anti-immigrant racism more commonly seen in mainland Britain. Although Northern Ireland has one of the smallest immigrant populations in the UK, far-right agitators from outside have amplified local grievances. As historian Brian Feeney noted, the loyalist groups involved are small and isolated, and all political leaders have condemned the violence.
For UK readers, Belfast’s riots are a warning. The combination of a shocking crime and online far-right coordination shows how quickly tensions can ignite – even in a region with relatively few migrants. The violence also comes at a politically sensitive time, with the Makerfield by-election looming. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the renewed focus on border controls “will probably make a difference” to the vote, as some progressive voters express frustration over immigration. Stephen Ogilvy’s family themselves pleaded for calm, urging people not to use the attack to foment hatred and reminding the public that migrants help keep hospitals running and the economy moving.
Q: What caused the Belfast riots? The immediate trigger was a knife attack on Stephen Ogilvy by a Sudanese asylum seeker, which far-right activists used to mobilise anti-immigration protests. Social media posts from Elon Musk and others helped spread calls for action, leading to violent demonstrations in Protestant areas of Belfast and elsewhere.
Q: Who is Stephen Ogilvy? Stephen Ogilvy is a Scottish man in his 40s who was stabbed in north Belfast on Monday 8 June. He lost his left eye and suffered serious injuries to his face, neck and back. His family has publicly appealed for an end to the violence and warned against using his tragedy to spread hatred.
Q: What is the government doing about the disorder? Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long has condemned the attacks, saying residents were targeted because of the colour of their skin. Police have deployed extra officers, used water cannon on protesters, and are monitoring social media. The suspect in the original attack has been charged and is in custody awaiting trial.
What happens next? Police remain on alert for further unrest. The accused, Hadi Alodid, is due back in court within weeks. Political leaders across the UK have condemned the violence, but the far-right influence could continue to stoke tensions, especially with the Makerfield by-election on 13 June likely to focus on immigration. For now, Belfast’s minority communities are living in fear – and the city waits to see whether calm will hold.