The Sudanese migrant accused of the Belfast knife attack that triggered widespread riots this week is a former policeman from a prominent family in northern Sudan, according to new reports.
Friends told British media that Hadi Alodid briefly served with the police in Khartoum before leaving the country after the outbreak of civil war in 2023.
The revelation emerged as Northern Ireland experienced a second night of disorder, with police making 16 arrests and reporting injuries to 12 officers.
The disturbances followed Monday’s attack on local man Stephen Ogilvie, who suffered life-changing injuries including the loss of his left eye.
A 30-year-old Sudanese migrant, Hadi Alodid, has since been charged with attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place, and threatening to kill a hospital worker.
The attack has reignited political debate over immigration and asylum policy. It has emerged that Alodid entered Northern Ireland via the Republic of Ireland in 2023 and was granted refugee status under a fast-track Home Office asylum scheme.
Riot police deployed water cannons and fired baton rounds as demonstrators hurled bricks, bottles, and petrol bombs, set bins alight, and attempted to breach a nearby wastewater pumping station.
A vehicle at a Department for Infrastructure depot was set on fire, causing gas cylinders to explode. Fire and rescue service crews responded to dozens of incidents overnight, including fires involving vehicles, buildings, and industrial bins.
Police said disorder also broke out in Londonderry and Portadown.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the “racist thuggery,” arguing that attacks on people and property based on the colour of their skin could be described in no other way. He said some car drivers had reportedly been stopped and questioned about their nationality.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also condemned the violence, warning that those responsible would “feel the full force of the law.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said there was “no evidence” the violence had been coordinated by loyalist paramilitary groups, but warned of “significant coordination” through social media platforms. He called on technology companies to remove content encouraging disorder, saying online activity had created “momentum, drive, and toxicity.”
The British government has signalled plans to tighten social media rules in times of “crisis” amid concerns that graphic footage of the attack and perceived inflammatory posts on social media—especially those by U.S. billionaire Elon Musk and British right-wing activist Tommy Robinson—had helped inflame tensions.
However, Reform UK politician and commentator Matt Goodwin said it was “not social media” or “the far right” that was inflaming tensions, but “the very deliberate policy of mass uncontrolled immigration and open borders,” adding that “this policy has to end or it will destroy Western nations.”
The unrest comes amid wider public debate over crime, policing, and immigration following recent protests across England over the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
