Violent riots they broke out on Tuesday evening in Belfast after Sudanese citizen Hadi Alodid was charged with attempted murder for a brutal knife attack that took place a day earlier, writes the British The Telegraph.
Masked protesters set houses, vehicles and shops on fire, ignoring calls from politicians and the police to calm the situation. During the conflict, a public transport bus, a police car, and several residential buildings were set on fire.
The reason for the protests was the attack that took place on Monday evening on Kinnaird Avenue, when, according to the police, the suspect (30) seriously injured a 40-year-old man with a knife, who lost his left eye in the attack, and injured his right eye, neck and back.
Demonstrations in Scotland
Scottish First Minister John Sweeney described the scenes in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr on Tuesday night as "unacceptable" after crowds of protesters gathered in those areas in response to the Belfast attack.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at various locations in Glasgow city center on Tuesday night with their faces covered and there were many police officers.
Dozens of people also demonstrated in St Andrew's Square in Edinburgh and around 100 protesters were in Ayr.
In a post on Ix on Wednesday, Sweeney said "Scotland is a welcoming nation and those who choose to live there are valued members of our communities."
"Racism, hatred and intimidation have no place in Scotland. We must stand up to it," he says.
Disturbing footage
A disturbing video has surfaced on social media, showing the assailant knocking the victim to the ground and stabbing him repeatedly in the head. The injured man, identified by local media as Stephen Ogilvie.
According to the police, the suspect arrived in Dublin from Sudan via Paris, from where he traveled by bus to Belfast in February 2023. Shortly after his arrival, he applied for asylum in the United Kingdom, and in the same year he received refugee status and a residence permit until 2028.
Social mediaA knife attack that sparked public outrage
In addition to the charge of attempted murder, he is also charged with possession of a cold weapon in a public place, as well as threats to kill. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
During the protest, at least three houses were set on fire in the northwestern part of the city. According to British media footage, families with small children were evacuated from certain buildings as the fire engulfed the homes. Local religious leaders warned that people were also targeted because of their skin color.
Protesters also tried to set fire to a Middle Eastern store in south Belfast.
The riots were condemned by politicians across the political spectrum. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the knife attack as "horrific", while British Minister for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said that "there is no justification for this kind of violence and hooliganism".
The Police of Northern Ireland announced that during the evening incidents were recorded in several locations and called on citizens to exercise restraint, warning that the violence further endangers the safety of local communities.
Source: The Telegraph
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
