The victim of Monday night's knife attack in Belfast has been named locally as Stephen Ogilvie, a man in his 40s who remains in a serious condition in hospital after suffering severe injuries to his eyes, face and back. The attack unfolded on Kinnaird Avenue, close to the busy Antrim Road, and was captured on graphic video showing bystanders — including one wielding a hurling stick — intervening in an attempt to stop the onslaught. A kitchen knife was recovered at the scene.
A 30-year-old Sudanese national has since been charged with attempted murder, possession of a blade, and making threats to kill, and is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Police confirmed the suspect crossed into Northern Ireland from Dublin in February 2023, lodged an asylum claim and was granted leave to remain until 2028. There is no suggestion the attack was terror-related.
“Stephen Ogilvie, 40s, remains in serious condition after stabbing; violent protests erupt in Belfast.”
The brutal stabbing triggered a wave of anti-immigration protests across Belfast on Tuesday evening that quickly turned violent. Homes and cars were set alight in east Belfast, a Glider bus was set on fire — prompting the suspension of all bus and train services — and residents had to be evacuated from burning houses. Northern Ireland secretary Hillary Benn condemned the “thuggery” that he said was “putting innocent lives at risk”. SDLP leader Claire Hanna described the scenes as a “race-based pogrom”, telling BBC Newsnight: “We are seeing men going door to door asking to get the foreigners out based exclusively on the colour of their skin.”
Baroness Foster, the former DUP first minister, said politicians must address the immigration debate rather than leaving it to police. “The debate has to take place by politicians and not through police officers who are trying to deal with what happened yesterday and what is happening today on our streets,” she argued. First Minister Michelle O’Neill wrote on social media that “groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice”.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson appealed for calm, acknowledging that “last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions from fear to anger”, but warned against further disorder. “No one needs to see a repeat of this,” he said. As the suspect prepares to appear in court, Stephen Ogilvie remains in hospital in a serious condition.