Belfast knife attack suspect: what we know about Hadi Alodid and his route to the UK
Some claim arrival via Ireland is a ‘back door’ that should be closed. But what would that look like in practice?
TL;DR
- Hadi Alodid, accused of attempted murder in Belfast, entered Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland in February 2023.
- Alodid was granted asylum in the UK in September 2023, giving him legal status.
- The Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and Ireland allows free movement, making border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland non-routine.
- Closing the Irish border for immigration purposes would contravene the Good Friday Agreement and strain political relations.
- Ireland also sees a significant number of asylum seekers arriving from Britain via Northern Ireland.