19 arrested in Belfast riots following stabbing incident

Northern Ireland police have arrested 19 individuals, including a 16-year-old, in connection with violent protests that erupted in Belfast and other towns. The sub-commissioner, Ryan Henderson, stated that the arrests followed protests with racist undertones, which were triggered by the recent stabbing of a local man by a Sudanese immigrant. The victim is recovering but lost an eye in the attack.

The disturbances involved hundreds of young people dressed in black with covered faces, resulting in injuries to 12 police officers. Henderson described the most recent Thursday night as "much quieter" than the preceding ones, marking the most severe disorder in the region for many years. The arrested individuals have been charged with rioting and presented to court.

Police are actively working to identify further participants in the Tuesday and Wednesday night altercations. Crimes leading to the arrests included deliberate vehicle damage in Taughmonagh, an incendiary attack on a house in Shore Road, stone-throwing at a police patrol in Newtownabbey, and graffiti in eastern Belfast. The Sudanese attacker, 30-year-old Hadi Alodid, faces charges of attempted murder and had arrived in the UK in February 2023, holding political refugee status until 2028.

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much quieter