Moment Belfast rioter sets himself on fire as gang hurls Molotov cocktails at house: Police say 12 officers were injured and 16 people arrested during second night of violence

By MARTIN ROBINSON, CHIEF REPORTER Published: 12:04, 11 June 2026 | Updated: 12:09, 11 June 2026 A rioter managed to set himself alight with his own petrol bomb on another night of violence in Northern Ireland sparked by the attempted beheading of Stephen Ogilvie by an asylum seeker.  The masked man's lit Molotov cocktail spilled down the back of his hoodie in Portadown last night - around 25 miles south-west of Belfast. The balaclava-clad thug and his gang were caught on camera running to throw petrol bombs at police close to the McConville's Bar in Mandeville Street, in the town centre. But he quickly began panicking when he realised the flaming fuel had dripped on to his clothing. He ran away while trying to pat down the flames on his shirt. It came as 12 police officers were injured and 16 arrests were made in the second night of unrest in Northern Ireland following the Belfast knife attack. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with attempted murder over Monday's knife attack in which Mr Ogilvie lost an eye. The reaction to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire in Belfast on Tuesday, with people targeted based on their race. A rioter managed to set himself on fire while rioting in Northern Ireland last night The yob threw the Molotov cocktail at the police in Portadown - but set himself alight his own clothes in the process The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) appealed for assistance in identifying individuals in images connected to Tuesday night's disorder. The force also urged those in the pictures to come forward to police. The Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has condemned the 'racist thuggery' seen in the wake of Monday's stabbing assault which left the victim in hospital. Police used water cannons on rioters, as officers were pelted with bricks and petrol bombs by balaclava-clad rioters in Co Antrim on Wednesday evening. A Department for Infrastructure vehicle was left in flames as rioters confronted police near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey to the north west of Belfast. Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road, where they could be seen tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at police. Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye following the attack and suffered injuries to his back, neck and face in the attempted 'beheading' at around 10.30pm on Monday  Mr Ogilvie was left with significant injuries and remains in hospital, police said Rioters attempted to set fire to a derelict property near a petrol station in Newtownabbey, with some throwing petrol bombs at police lines. They could also be seen taking wheelie bins from outside homes and lighting fires in them. In Londonderry, police reported items having been set alight on the Ardmore Road. The family of the victim Stephen Ogilvie said they were 'disgusted' by the disorder. In response to a second night of disorder, Mr Benn told LBC Radio: 'Thugs burning people out of their homes because of the colour of their skin. 'This is not what Northern Ireland is about.' He added: 'Most importantly, the family of Stephen Ogilvie, who was so brutally attacked on Monday night, have said that they don't want to see this.' The Belfast knife attack suspect was granted asylum in Britain under a controversial 'fast-track' scheme, the Daily Mail revealed today. Alodid was given permission to stay here after completing a 10-page Home Office questionnaire rather than undergoing the standard – and far more rigorous - face-to-face interview process. It prompted new calls to re-think the 'streamlined' programme set up when Rishi Sunak was prime minister as part of his pledge to clear a backlog of 92,000 asylum cases. Then home secretary Suella Braverman and immigration minister Robert Jenrick – who have both since defected to Reform - oversaw the introduction of the scheme. It was privately described within the Home Office as the 'grant factory', in reference to the huge numbers of asylum seekers granted refugee status. Asylum seekers from countries like Sudan were allowed to access the streamlined system – reducing the backlog - because the vast majority of their claims were eventually granted in any case due to conflict in their home nations. But the scheme was dubbed a 'dangerous folly' and an 'asylum amnesty in all but name' by Migration Watch UK, which campaigns for tougher border controls, after its launch in February 2023, the month Alodid travelled by bus from Dublin to Belfast. Four months later, in June 2023, it was extended to Sudanese nationals and Alodid was granted a five-year refugee visa in September that year. His case was dealt with under the fast-track scheme, it is understood. Then home secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) and immigration minister Robert Jenrick – who have both since defected to Reform - oversaw the introduction of the scheme, which is still in operation Hadi Alodid, 30, from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife, as well as a separate charge of making threats to kill an NHS radiographer. He appeared at Belfast magistrates' court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody Your browser does not support iframes. Known as the 'Streamlined Asylum Process', or SAP, it was also open to Eritreans, Syrians, Afghans, Libyans and Yemenis. A Tory source said: 'The Home Office at the time did not want to do the fast-track scheme but Rishi forced it on them. 'It was the worst of both worlds because he failed to stop small boats across the Channel and, at the same time, made it easier to win asylum. 'It was totally illogical and they should have been working to disincentive asylum seekers.' Ms Braverman was sacked from the Home Office by Mr Sunak in October 2023 and in a blistering resignation letter accused him of betraying both her and the nation, particularly on immigration. Accusing him of 'magical thinking' and of repeatedly 'compromising' on tough changes to asylum law, she wrote: 'This irresponsibility has wasted time and left the country in an impossible position.' A Daily Mail analysis of latest Home Office data shows the number of asylum claims from Sudanese nationals has soared from 2,853 in 2022 to 5,112 last year. In the year to March, 95 per cent of Sudanese asylum claims where the Home Office made an initial decision – more than 5,503 main applicants - were granted. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Meanwhile, the number of Sudanese coming here by small boat and then claim asylum has nearly tripled from 1,525 in 2022 to 4,537 last year – as migrants know that under the SAP scheme they are almost certain to be handed refugee status.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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