The family of Stephen Ogilvie, the victim of Monday's knife attack in north Belfast, have told of their devastation after it emerged he lost his left eye in the assault. In a statement issued through DUP assembly member Phillip Brett, they said they were “completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one” and thanked the local people who intervened, saying “your quick actions absolutely saved his life”.
The 30-year-old suspect, Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese national, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with the attempted murder of Ogilvie, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife. He was remanded in custody for four weeks. Alodid refused legal representation and made no reply when the charges were put to him through an Arabic interpreter.
“Belfast knife attack victim Stephen Ogilvie lost his left eye; family appeals for calm after anti-immigration protests erupt across city.”
Ogilvie, in his 40s, remains in hospital with serious injuries to his eye, face and back. The attack, captured on video and widely shared online, triggered anti-immigration protests across Belfast on Tuesday evening, with masked crowds setting bins, vehicles and buildings on fire. At least three people have been arrested. Northern Ireland’s first minister, Michelle O’Neill, condemned the violence, calling it “nothing less than disgusting cowardice”.
The family urged calm, saying: “We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.” They stressed that many migrants “make a deeply valuable contribution to our country”, including in healthcare and hospitality, and said: “We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “sickening” and the resulting disorder as “totally unjustified”. Northern Ireland’s five main party leaders issued a joint statement condemning the “brutality” of the stabbing. Police chief Jon Boutcher confirmed Alodid arrived in the UK in 2023 via Paris and Dublin and holds a residence permit valid until 2028. The unrest follows similar tensions in Southampton last week over the police handling of a separate murder case.
Elon Musk retweeted a post by anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, adding: “Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!” Reform party leader Nigel Farage and Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe also demanded details about the attacker. The family's plea for peace now hangs over a city still smouldering.