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  "path": "/partner/thousands-gather-for-anti-racism-rally-in-belfast-after-two-nights-of-disorder-following-stabbing",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-13T16:22:36.000Z",
  "site": "https://nukta.com",
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nAround 3,000 people gathered in Belfast on Saturday for an anti-racism rally after two nights of disorder that erupted following a viral video of a knife attack in the city.\n\nProtesters carried placards reading \"Hate is the only threat to our streets\" and \"Belfast stands against racism.\" The rally was organised by the Unite Against Racism group.\n\n### What triggered the unrest in Belfast?\n\nThe disorder followed a knife attack on Monday night, captured on video and widely shared across social media platforms. The footage showed a man slashing another person lying in the street.\n\nA Sudanese man appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, who remains in hospital.\n\n### What happened during the two nights of disorder?\n\nNorthern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the rioting had created a sense of fear, with some people being intimidated and burned out of their homes by masked thugs based on their skin colour.\n\nHe said there were also reports of people being stopped in their cars and asked their nationality on the way to work, which he described as completely unacceptable.\n\nLocal SDLP councillor Seamas de Faoite said organisations across the city had been working to rehome people too frightened to return to their homes.\n\n### What did speakers say at the anti-racism rally?\n\nBelfast mayor Rois-Maire Donnelly told the crowd that a small minority could not be allowed to spread fear and hatred, and disclosed she had received death threats during the week.\n\n\"Our city is stronger because of its diversity,\" she said. Protester Hilary Hunter, 63, told AFP she was there because she was disgusted at what was happening and wanted to show that those causing the unrest were not speaking for the broader community.\n\n### What is the broader context of anti-immigration tensions in the UK?\n\nImmigration is a contested issue in both the UK and Ireland and has helped fuel the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.\n\nBoth countries have seen frequent anti-immigration protests in recent years, some of which have turned violent. The Belfast unrest follows a pattern of disorder that has flared across the UK in response to incidents involving individuals from immigrant communities.",
  "title": "Thousands gather for anti-racism rally in Belfast after two nights of disorder following stabbing"
}