Mehdi Hasan has accused Elon Musk of amplifying far-right voices after anti-immigration protests in Belfast turned violent, with footage showing civilians being escorted away from burning homes as police and emergency crews responded to the unrest.
The disorder followed a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night, after which a 30-year-old Sudanese man was charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article and making threats to kill. The victim, a man in his 40s, remained in hospital with serious injuries.
The case quickly became a flashpoint in the UK immigration debate after graphic footage of the attack spread online. Protests in Belfast escalated on Tuesday night, with vehicles and buildings set alight and roads blocked. Police appealed for calm and urged people not to share graphic material or allow online commentary to inflame tensions.
Hasan, speaking during a television discussion with Victoria Derbyshire, criticised Musk’s response to the unrest and accused him of using such cases to promote far-right narratives.
“He is obsessed with finding these cases where he can then amplify far right voices,” Hasan said. “He doesn’t just do it in England with Tommy Robinson, he does it in German with the AfD, obviously he does it in the US with Twitter.”
Asked by Derbyshire, “What is he seeking to do?”, Hasan replied: “He’s seeking to embolden some of the worst far right voices in the Western world.” “That’s why he’s funding so many people all over the place.”
“This is his agenda. It’s a very racist agenda. We see that in the US with the Republican party.”
“Elon Musk amplifies some of the most neo-nazi voices on Twitter.”
“You can take the boy out of apartheid South Africa, can you take apartheid South Africa out of the boy?”
“You can take the boy out of apartheid South Africa, can you take apartheid South Africa out of the boy?”
Musk had posted in support of protests, writing: “Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!”
He also wrote: “Only Restore Britain can save Britain.”
“It is the only way.”
The comments came as Belfast faced scenes of violence that showed the human cost of the unrest. Footage carried by RT showed police officers and emergency responders escorting civilians, including women and what appeared to be families, away from a street where terraced houses and vehicles were burning.
The video showed thick smoke, flames, firefighters in protective gear and police guiding people towards emergency vehicles. The footage appeared to show residents being moved to safety as rioters targeted homes and streets during the anti-immigration disorder.
The unrest has intensified debate over how violent crime, immigration policy and online influence are being linked in public discussion. The Belfast stabbing is being investigated as a serious criminal case, while the violence that followed has raised separate concerns about vigilante action and attacks on migrant communities.
Critics of Musk say his interventions focus heavily on crimes involving migrants or refugees while giving less attention to other forms of violence, including mass shootings in the United States. Supporters of stricter immigration controls argue the Belfast case reflects deeper public anger over asylum processing, border checks and community safety.
The Belfast disorder has now placed both issues under scrutiny: the handling of serious crime by individuals granted refuge, and the danger of turning one criminal case into a wider campaign against entire communities.
Police in Northern Ireland have maintained an increased presence and appealed for people to avoid further disorder. Political leaders have condemned the knife attack while also warning that violence against homes, families and minority communities cannot be justified.
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