Anti-Beheading Rioters Will ‘Feel the Full Force of the Law’ Warns PM Starmer as Alleged Knifeman Named in Court

The alleged knifeman in an “attempted beheading” that triggered riots in Belfast overnight has appeared in court, charged with attempted murder, knife possession, and threatening to kill an NHS radiographer.

A court has heard Steven Ogilvy, the victim of the “attempted beheading” in north Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the United Kingdom this week lost one eye and suffered serious damage to the other, as well as deep cuts to his neck. He remains in hospital in serious condition.

The alleged attacker, 30-year-old Sudanese national Hadi Alodid appeared at a Belfast court this morning by way of a video link from the high security Musgrave Street Police Barracks. He had refused legal representation and what few responses he made to the judge came through an Arabic interpreter, the BBC reports.

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The BBC also notes the judge took the opportunity of Alodid’s first hearing to address the public in Northern Ireland, warning them they would “expect to go to prison” for the anti-beheading protests on Tuesday that turned to riots overnight.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to those riots this morning with a warning of his own. Calling the “scenes” overnight “shocking and completely unacceptable”, the head of government returned to his usual pattern where he gives the impression — inadvertently or not — of being more outraged by the counter-migrant-violence protests than the original violence itself. He said: “It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it. Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.”

He followed that statement up with remarks in the House of Commons this afternoon, saying the riot was “totally unjustified”.

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