Belfast protests erupt after Sudanese asylum seeker charged over brutal Northern Ireland knife attack
Belfast has been rocked by violent anti-immigration protests after a knife attack sparked outrage and calls for action across Northern Ireland.
Violent protests have erupted across Belfast after a Sudanese asylum seeker was charged over a knife attack that left a man with serious injuries to his head, face and neck.
Hundreds of anti-immigration demonstrators took to the streets of the Northern Ireland capital on Tuesday night local time, with some setting vehicles alight and clashing with police as tensions boiled over.
Television footage showed a bus engulfed in flames in east Belfast, while masked youths gathered at multiple locations across the city. Police responded by deploying armoured vehicles and increasing their presence amid fears of wider unrest.
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A 30-year-old Sudanese national has since been arrested and detained on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police said the suspect had been granted leave to remain in the UK in September 2023 after claiming asylum. He is understood to have travelled to Belfast from Dublin in February that year after arriving in Ireland from Paris.
The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered significant injuries to his eyes along with slash wounds to his face and back during what police described as a brutal attack. A kitchen knife was recovered at the scene.
Footage of the incident, widely shared across social media, showed members of the public attempting to fight off the attacker before police arrived. Senior officers credited those intervening with helping save the victim’s life.
The attack prompted calls for protests online and reignited debate about Britain’s immigration and asylum policies.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as “sickening”.
Northern Ireland police urged the public not to allow the violence to escalate further.
“I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions, from fear to anger,” Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.
“I appeal for calm and the safety of all of our communities in response to this.”
Police said the incident is not currently being treated as terrorism.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the suspect was not previously known to authorities.
“There is no trace of this suspect on any of our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland,” he said.
Political leaders also appealed for restraint as protests continued.
“Last night’s attack in North Belfast was horrific and shocking. Many people are feeling angry, and many people are feeling deeply distressed,” First Minister Michelle O’Neill said.
Constable Henderson warned against a repeat of previous unrest in the region.
“Nobody, nobody in Northern Ireland wants to see a repeat of the disorder that we have seen in recent years,” he said.
- With Reuters
