Belfast:
The unrest followed the circulation of a graphic video appearing to show a man repeatedly stabbing the victim in North Belfast on Monday night. Police have charged a 30-year-old Sudanese man with attempted murder in connection with the attack.
As tensions escalated, protesters set a Glider bus ablaze on Newtownards Road in East Belfast and torched cars near Shankill Road and in Newtownabbey. Properties believed to be linked to migrants were also targeted.
According to the BBC, around 100 men, including several teenagers, kicked in doors and smashed the windows of homes on a street in East Belfast. Residents described chaotic scenes as masked men attacked properties and petrol bombs were thrown.
The suspect has also been charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place and making threats to kill. He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the victim suffered serious injuries to his eyes, along with slash wounds to his face and back. Police said there was no indication at this stage that the attack was terrorism-related.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the accused had been granted leave to remain in the UK in September 2023 following an asylum claim and was believed to be living locally. He added that the suspect was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and did not appear on national security databases.
Anti-immigration activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, shared the video online and amplified calls for demonstrations. Elon Musk also condemned the attack and shared a list of protest locations on X.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the knife attack as “sickening” and condemned the subsequent violence, saying there was no tolerance for such scenes on the streets.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn urged people to remain calm and allow the police to do their job. Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long also appealed to communities not to allow themselves to be drawn into disorder, saying that “hate cannot be allowed to win”.
The identity of the victim has not been officially confirmed.