The Tánaiste has described the violent scenes in Belfast on Tuesday night as “chilling”.

Buildings and vehicles were damaged and set on fire and people were forced from their homes during a night of unrest in Belfast.

The violence broke out after a man in his 40s was seriously injured in a stabbing incident in Belfast on Monday night.

Police say the attack happened in the Kinnaird Avenue area on Monday night at around 10.30pm.

30-year-old Hadi Alodid appeared in court on Wednesday morning charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie.

The Sudanese national was denied bail and remanded in custody. He will appear in court again next month.

Belfast, Antrim, UK. 9th June, 2026. Belfast youths burn down a grocery store owned by an immigrant. Belfast erupted into flames as locals took to the streets to protest against the stabbing of a North Belfast man by a Sudanese national refugee. The protestors are demanding a stop to immigration into Northern Ireland. (Credit Image: © Lab Mo/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire) 

First Minister Michelle O'Neill described the violence across Northern Ireland on Tuesday night as “outright thuggery”.

Sinn Féin MLA for South Belfast, Deirdre Hargey, said the violent scenes were reminiscent of times gone by.

" I think anyone who watches and witnesses what happened last night would be completely disgusted by the actions of masked men going along houses and trying to identify people from a minority ethnic background, smashing windows, breaking into those homes, and setting those homes on fire.

"A number of houses across Belfast were actually burnt to the ground".

Belfast, UK. 09th June, 2026. One of many cars firebombed during an anti-immigration protest. Road blockades were set up all over Belfast bringing much of the city to a standstill. (Photo by Lab Mo/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Credit: Sipa USA/Alamy Live News

Tánaiste Simon Harris said there's never any excuse to target people on the basis of their race or ethnicity.

"What we're after seeing overnight, in Northern Ireland is chilling, deeply concerning and unsettling.

"One can only imagine the absolute horror and fear that so many people must have felt last night, including so many children.

"The idea of masked men on the streets, homes being set on fire, and people being targeted on the basis of their race is a despicable, heinous crime".

Political parties and the PSNI had appealed for calm on Tuesday as details of the knife attack were emerging.