Main PointsKey Reads<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 4 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Belfast riots ‘straight from the far-right playbook\u2019, D\u00e1il told<\/p>\n
The horrific violence wreaked in the North since the stabbing attack on a man in North Belfast is \u201cstraight from the far-right playbook\u201d, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger told the D\u00e1il, Marie O\u2019Halloran<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n
She said they use a horrific tragedy or incident, \u201cwhen it\u2019s a person of colour who\u2019s a suspect in a violent assault\u201d to \u201cimplement their pre-cooked plan of racist and chaotic destruction\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are being stopped and questioned about their skin colour, about their nationality, about their race. Homes have been destroyed, businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said families who have been in the North for decades \u201chave been burnt out or attacked in their homes, businesses set alight\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Dublin West TD hit out at \u201coutside actors\u201d including Reform leader Nigel Farage and X owner Elon Musk who were \u201cactively whipping up violence as well. And there\u2019s been also an element of handwringing from some politicians in the North who\u2019ve been involved in stirring up racism themselves in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin replied that the racism on display and \u201cthe burning out of families because of their ethnicity\u201d is very dangerous.<\/p>\n
He said it puts Northern Ireland \u201cin a very difficult and challenging spotlight in terms of where the north goes into the future\u201d societally, with \u201csome areas potentially becoming no go areas, because of the colour of your skin or because of your ethnicity, despite the fact that you might have been living in an area for quite some time\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was also \u201cmaking life very, very difficult for many families\u201d and it would demand \u201ca significant community response and a response from social services\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said \u201cwe have to be extremely vigilant in dealing with this\u201d because of \u201cfar-right elements in particular\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 11 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Angry scenes outside Leinster House<\/p>\n
Protesters have now arrived outside Leinster House, Jack White<\/b> reports:<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a heavy Garda presence here, including the public order unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome [protesters] approached garda\u00ed policing the protest as they marched near Dawson Street, labelling them a \u2018disgrace\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
A large area outside Leinster House is cordoned off and a number of protesters knocked down some of the barricades on arrival.<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 23 minutes ago<\/p>\n
DUP leader says Irish border should be closed<\/p>\n
Gavin Robinson, the DUP leader, said the knife attack in Belfast on Monday night was \u201cmedieval\u201d and suggested the \u201copen, porous border\u201d between Ireland and Northern Ireland should be closed.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the House of Commons, Robinson condemned the disorder in Belfast last night but said people were right to be concerned about the asylum system, noting the accused had passed thorough two safe countries before arriving in Belfast. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe North Belfast attack on Monday was medieval, it was sadistic and it\u2019s sadly been viewed by millions in this country. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs reprehensible as it was, the outrageous violence, intimidation and community damage carried out last night in my constituency, and in other parts of Northern Ireland, require the strongest condemnation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MP for Belfast East asked if British prime minister Keir Starmer would meet him to discuss how to ensure the rule of law is sustained, and that he protects and closes \u201cthe open, porous border between our country and the Irish Republic\u201d.<\/p>\n
Starmer thanked Robinson and all leaders who have urged calm, adding he is happy to meet him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all sickened by this attack, but the scenes of violence and disorder have no justification,\u201d Starmer said.<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 34 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Protesters march to Leinster House <\/p>\n
A large crowd has gathered at the GPO on Dublin\u2019s O\u2019Connell Street, protesting the EU migration and asylum pact which is due to come into effect on Friday. <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GDF3UWGN5BBAJGFPS7N4ECV43E.JPG\")
A father and son among the crowd gathering at the GPO in Dublin as part of a protest demanding a referendum on the EU migration pact. Photo: Bryan O\u2019Brien\/The Irish Times ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/IRIOVSKHJ5DK5KL4NEWKDRMRGM.JPG\")
A crowd gathering at the GPO in Dublin as part of a protest demanding a referendum on the EU migration pact. Photo: Bryan O\u2019Brien\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n
They are currently marching to Leinster House, Jack White<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 43 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Immigration debate risks \u2018destabilising\u2019 UK, says watchdog<\/p>\n
The immigration debate risks \u201cdestabilising\u201d the UK, the British Government\u2019s terror laws watchdog warned, as he questioned whether the wave of unrest it is prompting should be considered a threat to national security.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Hall, the UK\u2019s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the riots had \u201chuge ramifications\u201d in Belfast. <\/p>\n
The violence in the North follows recent conflict in Southampton and Southport in England which was fuelled by anger over migration.<\/p>\n
Hall told BBC Radio Four\u2019s Today programme: \u201cI\u2019m interested in the question of whether or not foreign nationality, particularly recent migrants, is becoming more relevant to the overall national security picture.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough it doesn\u2019t appear this attack was a national security attack, it has had huge ramifications in Belfast, not least for people who happen to be black and brown, who it appears have been driven out of their houses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s extraordinarily destabilising.\u201d – PA<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 52 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Targeting of ethnic minorities is \u2018sickening\u2019, says minister![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/65TFJDQYNY6CAT2EO5Z6WM27EM.jpg\")
Police on Lendrick Street in Belfast following a night of anti-immigrant riots. Photo: Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images <\/p>\n
In Westminster, security minister Dan Jarvis said: \u201cReports that ethnic minorities were targeted are sickening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the rioting in Belfast was \u201cshocking and completely unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose responsible will feel the full force of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said 200 more officers would be on the streets on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will deal with this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night, and we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jarvis told MPs there had been three arrests \u201cbut more will surely follow\u201d. – PA<\/p>\n
\u00d3rla Ryan – 56 minutes ago<\/p>\n
Lord Mayor of Belfast receives death threats ![\"Sinn](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/OA2HGTEUMBYT2P4X6C3YTIS2VE.jpg\")
Sinn F\u00e9in MLA Deirdre Hargey, Belfast Lord Mayor R\u00f3is-M\u00e1ire Donnelly and Stormont First Minister Michelle O’Neill speaking outside Belfast City Hall about the death threats issued to Donnelly. Photo: David Young\/PA Wire<\/p>\n
R\u00f3is-M\u00e1ire Donnelly, the Sinn F\u00e9in lord mayor of Belfast, says she received death threats amid the disorder in the city last night.<\/p>\n
In a statement she said the PSNI visited her at home and \u201cinformed me that threats had been made against my life and advised me to take extra precautions regarding my personal security\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want to make it clear that these threats will not deter me from fulfilling my role as mayor of this great city,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The threats were raised by party leader Mary Lou McDonald in the D\u00e1il earlier and condemned by the Taoiseach. <\/p>\n
Bus and train services to be suspended this evening<\/p>\n
Bus and train services in Northern Ireland are due to be suspended on Wednesday evening amid fears of further violence.<\/p>\n
A statement from Translink, which runs public transport in the North, said: \u201cThere will be no bus departures after 5pm and no train services will depart after 6pm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Translink said it was \u201cworking closely with a range of stakeholders, including the PSNI, our Trade Unions, and other key partners to make appropriate arrangements to keep our passengers, staff and the wider public safe\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPassengers are advised that services may be subject to alteration or cancellation. Where possible, passengers should travel earlier in the day and allow extra time for their journeys,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuspending services is always a last resort, but the safety of our customers and staff remains our top priority. We want to give people as much advance notice as possible so they can plan accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Services are expected to resume tomorrow morning.<\/p>\n
Family of victim \u2018don\u2019t want terrible tragedy used to divide people or fuel hostility\u2019<\/p>\n
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, the man injured in the knife attack on Monday, have called for calm in a statement that stressed the \u201cdeeply valuable contribution\u201d migrants make.<\/p>\n
In a statement issued via Phillip Brett, a DUP member of the legislative assembly, the family said they \u201care completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one on Kinnaird Avenue\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been a massive shock to our whole family, and right now, our only priority is being at his bedside and helping him recover.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200bWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200bWe 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family asked for privacy and encouraged anyone with information to contact the PSNI.<\/p>\n
Violence condemned in the D\u00e1il<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach and opposition leaders have condemned the violence in the North following the \u201csavage, horrific\u201d knife attack in North Belfast, Marie O\u2019Halloran<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin and Mary Lou McDonald condemned the violence as the Sinn F\u00e9in leader also highlighted a threat on the life of Belfast Lord Mayor R\u00f3is-M\u00e1ire Donnelly who would \u201cnot bow to these threats\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said such threats were \u201cappalling\u201d and must be \u201ccondemned\u201d. He said these kinds of threats were an increasing phenomenon and \u201cunfortunately, both the Garda\u00ed and the PSNI are pursuing too many cases where threats are made to the lives of politicians in this house in the Northern Assembly\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Sinn F\u00e9in leader said \u201clast night groups of masked men burned families out of their homes, targeted and attacked innocent people, terrified and endangered small children. We witnessed racist intimidation and violence orchestrated by loyalist and far-right thugs, people hell-bent on whipping up hatred for their own ends.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDonald said \u201cmany of those leading this violence are the same people who will burn tricolors on the top of bonfires on the 12th of July. What occurred last night echoes back to the pogroms on Bombay Street in 1969 when families and children were burnt out of their homes by loyalist mobs. Why? Because they were Catholic. Why? Because they were Irish.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Taoiseach said \u201cwhat we witnessed last evening is absolutely appalling, that families would be burned out of their homes because of race or ethnic reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n
He insisted \u201cno one has the right to say to someone \u2018you\u2019re not living here anymore\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
Suspect entered Northern Ireland via Dublin<\/p>\n
The PSNI has said Alodid entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border in February 2023, having flown to Dublin from Paris.<\/p>\n
He claimed asylum upon arrival and in September 2023 was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.<\/p>\n
![\"Northern](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/JIDCFRUZFDUSHXQYKTCE4CZIM4.jpg\")
Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, and Chief Constable of the PSNI, Jon Boutcher, at a press conference in Belfast on Wednesday. Photo: Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images <\/p>\n
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn told reporters at the PSNI HQ in Belfast today that he called Justice Minister Helen McEntee last night \u201cbecause I was keen to brief her on what had happened, given what we now know about how the suspect arrived in Northern Ireland\u201d. <\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cObviously there are questions for us \u2013 some of which have been asked today \u2013 and there will be questions too to the authorities in Ireland about what they know about the individual, because all of that may contribute to the investigation process that is rightly continuing, being led by the chief constable.”<\/p>\n
The Irish Times has contacted the Department of Justice for comment.<\/p>\n
Victim has lost his left eye![\"Hadi](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Z75M6WSOW5ERLGKELCYXWLPQDU.jpeg\")
Hadi Alodid appearing via video link at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. Court artist drawing: Elizabeth Cook\/PA Wire <\/p>\n
![\"Vehicles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781100497_35_6GSLYQ2YVXWR5CKJJGRG2PUIWQ.jpg\")
Vehicles set on fire on Lendrick Street in Belfast on Tuesday. Photo: PA Wire<\/p>\n