THE family of the Belfast knife attack victim has issued a statement calling for calm adding that the “overnight unrest is not welcome”.
Hadi Alodid, 30, was remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye.
The reaction to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire, with people targeted based on their race.
Police fear further violence in the wake of the attack, which was captured on video and has been widely shared online, with high-profile social media accounts using the incident to call for street protests.
Ogilvie’s family’s statement was issued via Phillip Brett, a DUP member of the legislative assembly, where they called for calm following last night's unrest.
The family statement read: “We are completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one on Kinnaird Avenue.
“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.
“We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.”
The family added: “We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. 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 and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.
“We are asking the media and the public to please give us some space. We need privacy to focus on our family right now, without cameras or people speculating about what happened.
“If you know anything at all about the attack, or saw anything strange near Kinnaird Avenue, please go to the police.
“Thank you for respecting our privacy.”
Alodid appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning charged with the attempted murder of Ogilvie, with threats to kill an NHS radiographer and with possession of a knife.
The court heard Ogilvie lost his left eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back.
Alodid, who appeared in court via videolink, made no reply to the charges when they were put to him through an Arabic interpreter.
The court heard Alodid said “I’ve killed someone, I don’t know if they are dead” while in hospital receiving treatment for a hand injury and told medical staff “I will kill you”.
District judge Stephen Keown refused bail after hearing police concerns there could be “significant public disorder” if he was released due to “strong public feeling” about the incident.
The judge 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.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the rioting in Belfast was “shocking and completely unacceptable”.
