The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye and suffered severe injuries in a knife attack in Belfast, have spoken out following a night of unrest that saw vehicles and buildings set ablaze.
The 40-year-old victim was attacked on Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast at around 10.30pm on Monday. Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese national, has been charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife. He appeared in court this morning.
Masked demonstrators set cars, houses, and a bus on fire, chanting xenophobic slogans and damaging property. Police rescued a two-month-old baby during the violence, which was sparked by graphic footage of the attack circulating online.
In a statement, Mr Ogilvie’s family said: “We are completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one. This has been a massive shock to our whole family, and right now, our only priority is being at his bedside and helping him recover.”
They expressed profound gratitude to local people who intervened, saying: “Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment.” They also thanked emergency services and medical staff.
The family condemned the unrest, stating: “We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward. We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.”
They requested privacy and urged anyone with information about the attack to contact police.
