Severe racist violence has erupted in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, where homes and cars were set ablaze along Newtownards Road in East Belfast. The unrest, concentrated in loyalist Protestant areas, has continued for nearly a week. It began after local man Stephen Ogilvie was stabbed, leading to attempted murder charges against Sudanese national Hadi Alodid. During the riots, attackers circulated immigrants’ addresses on social media, prompting arson attacks that displaced families from Ukraine, Poland, and Romania.

Members of loyalist paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA) were reportedly involved, continuing to wield influence despite the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Online incitement amplified the violence, with far-right agitator Tommy Robinson calling for protests and Elon Musk promoting them on his platform X. Politicians including Jim Allister and Nigel Farage also made anti-immigrant remarks that heightened tensions.

Experts and residents described the violence as part of an organized racist campaign. They cited housing shortages and economic frustration as underlying causes, with landlords allegedly evicting locals to rent to state-supported migrants. Thousands have since marched in Belfast demanding peace and solidarity.