Belfast anti-immigration violence after knife attack keeps residents on edge

A 30-year-old man from Sudan appeared in a Belfast court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over a stabbing attack that left a victim seriously injured and triggered anti-immigrant violence in several parts of Northern Ireland.Hadi Alodid, 30, was ordered held in jail after an appearance by video in Belfast-magistrates-court" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="143740" data-entity-type="organization">Belfast Magistrates’ Court, where he was accused of blinding Stephen Ogilvie in his left eye during the stabbing, prosecutors said. He was also charged with threatening to kill a radiographer on the same day and with possessing a knife.Alodid refused legal representation through an Arabic interpreter and did not enter a plea.The court appearance followed a night of violence in which masked men set fire to several homes they believed to house immigrants, burned trash bins, torched a Belfast bus and pelted police with objects. Firefighters rescued several people from burning homes.Anselme Shima, a Belfast resident originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said he saw smoke from burning vehicles near his home.“I’ve lived on my street for almost 10 years, I have a good relationship with my neighbours, but last night was a horrific one,” he said. “We don’t know what to do. I’m scared. Seeing this, I’m wondering if I’m next.”