Man in court charged with attempted murder over Belfast attack

A 30-year-old Sudanese man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night.

Hadi Alodid, with an address in Duncairn Avenue in north Belfast, appeared via video link from Musgrave police station.

He is also charged with possession of a knife in a public place and threats to kill an NHS worker.

Bail was opposed and Alodid was remanded into custody.

The victim, named at Steven Ogilvy, who is a in his 40s, remains in hospital, the court heard he has lost his left eye and has damage to his right eye.

He also has injuries to his neck and back.

Alodid communicated with the court through an Arabic interpreter.

When he was read the charges he made no response.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective confirmed to the court she could connect him to the charges.

The court heard that Alodid was offered legal representation but refused it.

When asked if he intended to seek bail an officer at Musgrave told the court the defendant nodded his head in the affirmative.

The police officer told the court that at around 22:30 BST on Monday night police received a report from the Kinnaird Avenue area.

When they arrived a man was armed with a knife and sitting on another man, police removed the armed man.

The police officer alleged that when Alodid was brought to hospital for injuries to his hand he threatened to kill a hospital radiographer.

The officer said this incident had garnered a lot of media attention.

An area of the public gallery in court had to be used for press due to the number in attendance.

Bail was "strongly" opposed by the PSNI on the grounds of that it could lead to "significant public disorder", they said there was a risk of further offending, and a risk of flight.

The officer said they "weren't aware of any family ties here" in Northern Ireland.

Asked if there was anything he wanted to add to his bail application Alodid made no reply.

Judge Steven Keown refused bail on the grounds of the risk of reoffending, harm to the public, risk of flight and the risk of public disorder.

He said the "risks were far too great and unmanageable with any bail conditions".

He was remanded into custody to appear again in four weeks on 8 July.

Judge Keown commended the members of the public who went to the aid of Stephen Ogilvy and the first responders who attended that night.

He also said the court was aware of the public disorder and of the possibility of further protests today.

He condemned threats against emergency services and said those involved in this type of behaviour can "expect to go to prison".