Hadi Alodid appears in court charged with attempted murder over north Belfast stabbing
A man has appeared in court over the violent Belfast knife attack which sparked a wave of protests and disorder in Northern Ireland.
Hadi Alodid has appeared before the city’s magistrates’ court on Wednesday morning.
The 30-year-old, with an address at Duncairn Avenue in Belfast, is charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvy, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer on the same day and with the possession of a knife.
He appeared in court via videolink. He refused legal representation and made no reply to charges which were put to him through an Arabic interpreter.
Alodid has been refused bail after a detective told Belfast Magistrates’ Court there was a fear it would lead to “significant public disorder” if he was released due to “strong public feeling” about the incident.
Police said they “strongly” opposed bail on the grounds that Alodid is charged with an “extremely serious offence” that has “garnered serious media attention”.
The detective said if further offences were committed they would be “serious and unpredictable in nature”, and said the applicant is from Sudan and has links outside of the jurisdiction.
She also told the court he may fear for his own safety or fear a possible long custodial sentence.
The defendant made no reply.
District judge Stephen Keown said the risks were “far too great” and would be “unmanageable by any bail conditions”, and refused bail due to the risk of reoffending, risk of harm to the public, risk of public disorder and risk of flight.
He is next due to appear in court in four weeks’ time.
He said those members of the public, the police and the emergency services should be commended.
This follows an attack in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast on Monday night.
The victim of the stabbing remains in serious condition and the court has heard he lost his left eye and has severe damage to his right eye in the attack as well as deep cuts to his head and face, and long lacerations on his back.
The reaction to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire, with people targeted based on their race on Tuesday evening.
Judge Stephen Keown warned that anyone who plans to take part in further disorder in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to prison” and said the courts “won’t tolerate” any attacks on emergency services.
He said that the court’s thoughts were with the victim, the members of the public who intervened and the emergency services who went to the victims’ aid.
Violence 'shocking and completely unacceptable'
The incident in north Belfast sparked a wave of protests and disorder in parts of Northern Ireland. There has been widespread disruption with notice of planned protests forcing business and schools to close.
Politicians and journalists have been threatened. The Lord Mayor of Belfast said she has received death threats, saying they will not deter her from her work.
Sinn Féin’s Róis-Máire Donnelly said the threats “will not deter” her from fulfilling her duties as she called for the people of Belfast to reject racism and “stand with” immigrants who have become “valued members of our community”.
Two police officers were injured.
Three arrests have been made and the first person charged over recent disorder is to appear in court on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the disorder in Belfast was “shocking and completely unacceptable”, adding: “It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it.”
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, he added: “People are rightly sickened by the horrific attack on Monday night in north Belfast.
“As you have just said, the man arrested has been in court in Belfast this morning and charged.
“I want to thank the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other first responders and members of the public who responded with such bravery, and our thoughts are with the victim.
“But, let me be clear, the acts of violence and arson that followed are totally unjustified.
“This morning I spoke with the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the Chief Constable, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is meeting leaders in Belfast today.
“We are united in calling for calm and determined to restore order, support the police and all those on the front line, and ensure that justice is done.”
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "crack down on anyone who is fuelling this division" amid criticism of Elon Musk and social media's role in the violence on Tuesday in Belfast.
The billionaire 'X' owner continued overnight to promote calls for people to take to the streets in response to Monday's knife attack.
Mr Musk hit back at accusations and supported a post by GB News presenter Matt Goodwin saying it was not social media or him inflaming tensions in the UK, but "the very deliberate policy of mass uncontrolled immigration and open borders".
The PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the violence as "an act of self harm" and an "insult" to the brave actions of those that sought to help the victim in knife attack.
He said police would be on the streets in greater numbers on Wednesday and appealed calm.
Closures
Schools in Northern Ireland may have to close because of the threat of more disturbances later on Wednesday.
Public transport operator Translink said bus services will stop at 5pm and there will be no train services departing after 6pm due to expected protests on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland’s Education Authority said schools should take individual decisions on whether to close. A number of schools had already taken the decision to close by noon on Wednesday.
In a statement, the authority said: “EA is grateful to all schools and youth organisations for their support to children and young people at this time.
“We are all agreed maintaining the education of children and young people is a vital priority.
“In that context, while we are aware of unverified social media claims about further planned protests today, a blanket decision regarding closures for the whole of NI would be neither practical nor proportionate.
“Individual school leaders should continue to closely monitor the situation in their local area, and the commuting pathway for staff and pupils, and react as necessary and appropriate.
“We acknowledge that some schools may have to take individual decisions – for example, based on PSNI advice or local circumstances.”
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