Hadi Alodid: Man charged over Belfast knife attack pleads not guilty

A man charged in connection with a knife attack in north Belfast that sparked serious disorder in the city has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.

Hadi Alodid, 31, of Duncairn Avenue in Belfast, has also denied possessing a bladed weapon and a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.

Alodid is accused of carrying out the attack on Stephen Ogilvie in June.

Stephen Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, lost his left eye in the incident and sustained damage to his right.

Alodid, who has been in custody since the attack, was led into the dock in handcuffs at Belfast Crown Court, where three charges were put to him.

Dressed in a grey prison tracksuit, Alodid stood with his arms folded as an Arabic interpreter translated the proceedings for him.

He responded to all three charges in English with the words "not guilty".

A date was set for his trial in early February.

A number of review hearings will be held prior to that.

The attack, which the court heard took place in the vicinity of Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast, happened on June 8.

Videos circulating online at the time showed a number of people, including one wielding a hurling stick, confronting the apparent attacker until police arrived.

Alodid was arrested at the scene and remanded into custody.

Following the attack, violence erupted across Belfast, which saw homes and vehicles set alight.