Bystanders intervened, as the story goes, the attack was stopped and the victim - named as one Stephen Ogilvie - survived having suffered severe injuries, including the loss of his left eye. He's reportedly in a medically induced coma.
The attacker was identified as 30-year-old Hadi Alodid. He was allegedly detained by police and taken to a local hospital where he received treatment for injuries to his hand. During this treatment, police report, the suspect threatened the life of a nurse.
Alodid appeared in court - via video link - earlier today, speaking through an Arabic translator and having refused legal representation. Bail was refused and he has been remanded in custody.
Those are the facts of the case so far - as reported in the media.
The fallout has been "Southport-style" riots in Belfast, resulting - again according to the media - in the burning of several vehicles and one house. Rioters were reportedly targeting houses they believed to house immigrants.
The victim's family has made the usual statement condemning violence and asking the attack not be politicised whilst praising the role of migrants in our society:
We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.Politicians have been leapfrogging each other to make very predictable speeches on both sides of the issue, either citing "cultural incompatibility" and open borders or just "calling for restraint".
We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.
We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.
The timing of all of this is very interesting.














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