Anti-immigrant protests in Belfast after knife attack, police charge Sudanese man
14 reported
Hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters took to the streets of Belfast on Tuesday, setting vehicles alight, after police charged a Sudanese man over a knife attack that left one person with serious neck and head wounds. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack, which took place in north Belfast late Monday evening, as “sickening.” The knife attack is not being treated as terrorism, according to the source article. Masked youths gathered across the city, with police deploying armored vehicles, and protesters set fire to a number of vehicles including a bus in east Belfast. The BBC reported that a crowd of 100 men kicked in doors and broke windows of homes on a street in east Belfast, and Sky News showed footage of a house on fire. A few dozen protesters also blocked Parliament Square in London. The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese national, was charged with attempted murder and other offenses, and is due in court on Wednesday.
What’s reported
Hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters took to the streets of Belfast on Tuesday, setting vehicles alight.
Police charged a 30-year-old Sudanese man over a knife attack that left one person with serious neck and head wounds.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “sickening.”
The knife attack is not being treated as terrorism.
Masked youths gathered across the city; police deployed armored vehicles.
Protesters set fire to a number of vehicles, including a bus in east Belfast.
The BBC reported a crowd of 100 men kicked in doors and broke windows of homes in east Belfast.
Sky News showed footage of a house on fire.
A few dozen protesters blocked Parliament Square in London.
The suspect was charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with blade or point in a public place, and threats to kill.
The suspect is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Police said the suspect had been granted leave to remain in the U.K. in September 2023 after claiming asylum.
The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered significant injuries to his eyes and slash wounds to his face and back.
Northern Ireland’s main political party leaders jointly condemned the attack and called for calm.
Key figures
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Northern Ireland’s Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher
Sources: NBC News
