Three Romanian families chose the vandalized homes and want to return to the country as soon as possible, after the violent incidents in Belfast. MAE announcement
The homes of three Romanian families were vandalized following the events of Monday night, June 9, 2026, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and they want to return to the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced on Tuesday, which stated that the Romanian citizens are now safe.
Last night, protests in several areas of Belfast resulted in burning of homes, cars and means of transport. The violence erupted a day after an asylum seeker from Sudan attacked a local man with a knife.
“In the context of the violent events that took place recently in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), through the Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh, is making continuous efforts to identify any Romanian citizens affected by these incidents and to provide consular assistance, according to the competences”, the MFA said in a press release.
“Until this moment, the representatives of the consular office are in dialogue with three families of Romanian citizens whose homes were vandalized following the events of the night of June 9, 2026. The Romanian citizens are currently safe and have expressed their intention to return to Romania as soon as possible,” the ministry said.
According to the information so far, no victims of Romanian citizenship have been reported following the events in Belfast.
“At the level of the Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh, a request to issue a travel document was received, formulated by the parent of a minor Romanian citizen, who, as a result of the recent violence, wants to return to Romania with his family”, says the MFA.
According to the same source, the Consulate General of Romania in Edinburgh constantly monitors the situation of the affected Romanian citizens and maintains dialogue both with the local authorities and with the representatives of the community of Romanian citizens.
The MFA also recommends Romanian citizens in Northern Ireland to follow the instructions of the local police and avoid traveling to areas where demonstrations are taking place.
A Belfast man lost an eye and suffered other serious injuries in an attack on Monday by a Sudanese man in Northern Ireland on a temporary residence permit. The incident was followed by large-scale protests in Belfast, and some demonstrations in Scotland and London.
Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese man who lived in Belfast, is the author of the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie, a local in the Northern Irish capital, an incident that took place on Monday and sparked violent demonstrations against migrants on Tuesday night.
Some Romanians declared to the local press that they were not affected by the riots.
In the summer of 2025, the Romanian community was targeted by the local uprising in the Northern Irish town of Ballymena, County Antrim, after two Romanian teenagers were accused of attempted rape.
