Violent scenes of unrest plagued Belfast for a second night with police forced to fire water cannons at masked thugs who pelted officers with bricks and petrol bombs, injuring 12.
The disorder was sparked by inflamed tensions over immigration after it was revealed that the suspect in a street stabbing in the city is an asylum seeker from Sudan.
Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye and suffered serious injuries to his neck, face and back, in the attack in the north of the city on Monday evening, and remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Hadi Alodid, 30, was arrested at the scene and appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.
More scenes of of unrest gripped Northern Ireland overnight with 16 arrests made. Police, politicians and Mr Ogilvie’s family have called for calm amid the chaotic scenes, which saw some families targeted because of the colour of their skin colour.
Here is what we know about the incident so far:
Where did the attack happen?
Emergency services were called to Kinnaird Avenue, a residential street close to the Antrim Road in north Belfast, on Monday night following a knife attack.
The attack is understood to have unfolded around 10.30pm on Monday evening, with police arriving at the scene within minutes and arresting Mr Alodid on suspicion of attempted murder.
Graphic video footage captured of the incident appears to show a man repeatedly stabbing at the head and neck of a prone victim lying on the ground. Officers recovered what is believed to be a kitchen knife at the scene.
The clip shows bystanders, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the assault.
PSNI assistant chief constable, Ryan Henderson, described that who intervened as “heroic,” adding that they had “saved the life” of the victim.
He said: “I want to reassure the local community that we are treating this attack with the utmost seriousness.”
Police say Mr Ogilvie, aged in his 40s, had slash wounds to his back and face, including eye injuries. He is in hospital where his condition is described as serious.
Who was the victim?
Mr Ogilvie remains in hospital with "serious injuries to his eyes and slash-wound injuries to his back and face", police said.
He lost his left eye in the attack, Belfast Magistrates' Court heard on Wednesday.
His family expressed their “disgust” at scenes of violence, emphasising in a statement that they support only peaceful protest.
“We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including from within our healthcare system and hospitality sector, and we depend on them to make our country work,” they said.
What is known about the attacker?
Mr Alodid, 30, was initially believed by police to be from Somalia, but it was later clarified that he is a Sudanese national.
The accused was granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom on 28 September 28, 2023.
He applied for asylum status on arrival in Northern Ireland in February of the same year having travelled to Belfast on a bus from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
Previously he had travelled from Sudan to Paris on dates unknown and subsequently flew from Paris to Dublin, again on a date unknown.
Mr Alodid has been granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
He lived close to where the attack took place. He has been charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with blade or point in a public place, and making threats to kill.
Police in Northern Ireland have ruled out a terror-related motivate for the attack at this point but detectives have stressed that the investigation is at a very early stage and they are keeping an open mind.
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