Unrest in Northern Ireland has intensified for a second consecutive night. Riot police had to use high-pressure water cannons to disperse crowds following an incident where a Sudanese man stabbed a local man, causing serious injury and loss of an eye. This incident has escalated into large protests against immigrants.
Northern Ireland police used high-pressure water cannons to break up rioters at the Sandynose roundabout in Glengormley, northwest of Belfast, on Wednesday night (10 June), amid a second consecutive night of violent protests and riots.
Riot police were continuously attacked by assailants throwing bricks, glass bottles, and wooden debris at their lines. Despite reinforcements arriving to control the situation, the violence on Wednesday night was less severe than the riots on Tuesday night.
Footage from the scene showed dozens of people dressed in black with covered faces dismantling fences and nearby house entrances to use as weapons. Additionally, a large vehicle belonging to the Department for Infrastructure was set on fire, along with several trash bins.
The rioters also attempted to set fire to abandoned buildings and threw petrol bombs at police lines. Reports indicated efforts to approach a hotel housing refugees and asylum seekers.
The unrest caused public transport services across Northern Ireland to suspend operations temporarily on Wednesday. Several schools closed early, and many businesses in central Belfast shut down by noon, leaving major commercial districts nearly deserted.
Although demonstrations occurred in various parts of Northern Ireland, most remained peaceful. In East Belfast, around 150 protesters gathered under heavy police supervision, with only a few arrests made. In Coleraine, County Londonderry, over 100 people protested near Ulster University before dispersing without violence.
The trigger for these events was a Monday assault in Belfast (8 June), when 30-year-old Hadi Alodid, originally from Sudan, was charged with attempted murder. He is accused of stabbing 40-year-old Stephen Ogilvy, who suffered severe injuries including the loss of his left eye, damage to his right eye, and wounds to his neck and back. Ogilvy’s family recently stated his condition is stable and urged the public to protest peacefully, emphasizing the vital role many immigrants play in society.
However, the attack and ensuing racial criticism sparked protests across Northern Ireland on Tuesday. Masked groups set fire to homes, cars, and several buses, particularly in Belfast, forcing many families to evacuate their homes.
A UK minister revealed that at least 27 people became homeless after rioters went door-to-door searching for foreigners. A two-month-old infant was rescued from the danger zone amid the violence. Police warned that sharing addresses or property details on social media to target individuals could be illegal and endanger lives.
The UK's Nursing and Midwifery Council reported that some nurses were stopped by masked men while traveling to work and asked to show identification, with many foreign nurses experiencing heightened fear.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that while the public is understandably distressed over the Belfast stabbing, violence, arson, and attacks on police officers are unacceptable.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch acknowledged people's right to be upset and expect effective border control but emphasized that no one has the right to evict families, burn public property, or assault police officers.
The Stormont local government held an emergency meeting and issued a joint statement condemning the riots, calling for an end to violence, and noting the serious harm inflicted on communities, the fear generated, and the risks posed to innocent lives.
Northern Ireland’s police chief urged the public not to believe misinformation or incitement from individuals unfamiliar with the situation, cautioning that such actions could worsen the existing social tensions.
/sourceBBC