Unrest and violence in Belfast following a stabbing incident

On June 8, 2026, a 30-year-old Sudanese man allegedly attacked a 40-year-old resident named Steven Ogilby with a knife on Kinnaird Avenue in North Belfast. The victim sustained serious injuries to his face, neck, and back. A passerby, identified as 32-year-old Matt McKiernan, intervened using a hurling stick to neutralize the assailant before police arrived. Following the widely circulated video of the attack, large-scale protests erupted across Belfast on Tuesday, resulting in arson attacks on houses, vehicles, and public infrastructure. Masked protesters targeted immigrant families and forced them out of their homes. Police were deployed across the city to manage the riots, while political leaders including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the violence as barbaric. The suspect has been charged with attempted murder, and authorities are currently investigating the incident while increasing police presence to restore order.