How the Belfast attack played into the hands of Britain's far right

A stabbing incident in Belfast, where a man was allegedly attacked by a Sudanese asylum seeker, has become a focal point for Britain's far-right, amplifying anti-immigration narratives. The attack, which left victim Stephen Ogilvy with severe injuries to his eyes, face, neck, and back, has been exploited by figures like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson.

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We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.

Disturbing footage of the incident, which saw the alleged attacker, Hadi Alodid, charged with attempted murder, has circulated widely. While bystanders, including one hailed as a "HERO" for intervening, helped the victim, the event has been framed by the far-right as evidence of a broader immigration crisis.

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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.

Nigel Farage described the Belfast attack as "barbaric" and his party, Reform UK, linked it directly to "treacherous Tory and Labour immigration policy." Tommy Robinson has also used the incident to call for protests across the UK, labeling it "another invader attack on our people."

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barbaric

This exploitation occurs against a backdrop of surging anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK, with Reform UK achieving notable success in recent local elections. The victim's family has condemned the ensuing riots, urging peaceful protest and highlighting the valuable contributions of migrants to the country's healthcare and hospitality sectors.

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a direct result of treacherous Tory and Labour immigration policy