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Serious riots continue in Belfast after stabbing; 27 flee homes
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Serious riots continue in Belfast after stabbing; 27 flee homes

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • Serious riots have erupted in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland for a second consecutive day following a stabbing incident.
  • At least 27 people have been forced to flee their homes amid the unrest, which has seen homes, cars, and a bus set ablaze.
  • The victim's family has appealed for an end to the violence, condemning its use to fuel hatred and division, and urging people to stop spreading misinformation.

Belfast and other areas of Northern Ireland experienced a second night of severe unrest, escalating from a stabbing incident that left one man, Steven Ogilvy, in critical condition. The violence has resulted in significant destruction, with reports of homes, vehicles, and a bus being set on fire. At least 27 individuals have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing disturbances.

We are appalled by the scenes witnessed yesterday across Northern Ireland following what happened. Peaceful protest is the only way forward.

— Victim's familyExpressing horror at the riots and advocating for peaceful means of protest.

The family of the injured man issued a public plea for the riots to cease, expressing their horror at the scenes unfolding across Northern Ireland. They emphasized that peaceful protest is the only way forward and strongly condemned the use of the incident to incite hatred and division. The family explicitly stated they do not wish for their loved one's tragedy to be exploited for divisive purposes.

Authorities are investigating the potential role of social media in inciting the violence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has noted the spread of misinformation online, including fake images presented as the victim. The family urged anyone with information about the stabbing near Kincardine Avenue to contact the police and to stop disseminating false information, which they find deeply distressing.

We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or to fuel hatred. Please do not do this in our loved one's name, as we do not share these values.

— Victim's familyAppealing against the exploitation of the incident for divisive purposes.

In their statement, released via the PSNI, the family clarified the victim's condition, confirming he sustained serious injuries and lost his left eye but remains stable. They implored the public to refrain from spreading false information and to cooperate with law enforcement. The PSNI has warned against sharing unverified images and information circulating on social media platforms.

If you know anything about the attack or saw anything suspicious near Kincardine Avenue, please contact the police and stop spreading false information on social media, as this is deeply distressing for us.

— Victim's familyRequesting information from the public and urging them to cease spreading misinformation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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