Police blast water cannons at Belfast protesters as unrest flares again after stabbing

Police in Belfast used water cannon on Wednesday night as disorder flared for a second evening after a stabbing in north Belfast set off unrest that spread into nearby Newtownabbey.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said crowds threw bricks, bottles, petrol bombs, traffic cones and other objects at officers. Fires were lit, vehicles were burned and reporting from the area described damage to homes and other property.

The unrest came a day after a stabbing on Monday night in north Belfast that left Stephen Ogilvie seriously injured. On Tuesday, Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in Belfast Magistrates' Court and was charged with attempted murder.

Police said Ogilvie's family had asked for calm after false information about the attack circulated online. Reporting based on the family statement said he was in stable condition.

Second night of disorder

The police response intensified as the disturbance moved across Belfast and into Newtownabbey. Water cannon was deployed in an effort to disperse crowds as the violence continued into the evening.

The use of water cannon underlined the scale of the disorder. It is available to police in Northern Ireland but is uncommon and generally associated with serious public disturbance.

Witness accounts and news reports described flames, missiles and a heavy police presence. Some coverage referred to the unrest as anti-immigration violence, while official statements focused on disorder, racism and public safety.

Stabbing and court case

The stabbing remains central to the public reaction. Alodid's court appearance on Tuesday brought the case into the open, but the unrest that followed quickly became shaped by misinformation and online amplification.

The victim's family, speaking through police, urged people not to use the attack to fuel violence. Their appeal came as social media claims about the stabbing circulated widely.

Official condemnation

Northern Ireland ministers and UK political leaders condemned the violence and called for calm. Jon Boutcher, the chief constable of the PSNI, is among the officials expected to maintain a heightened security presence as authorities try to prevent further clashes.

Police said they expected more unrest and increased security, including additional officers on the streets. Their warning reflected concern that incitement online could continue to drive copycat disorder.

Wider stakes

The violence raised immediate concerns for residents in affected neighborhoods, especially where homes, vehicles or other property were targeted.

It also added pressure on police already responding to a fast-moving public order situation, while the court case and competing narratives about the stabbing continued to shape the political and public debate.

Authorities will be watching closely for further protests or retaliation in the coming days. The risk, police and officials suggested, is that misinformation and anger could keep feeding the unrest unless the situation is contained.