STORY
Political leaders have appealed for calm after a serious knife attack in north Belfast left a man in his 40s in hospital with severe injuries. Police arrested a 30-year-old Sudanese man on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident on the evening of 8 June, which was partly filmed and then circulated widely on social media. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said a knife had been recovered and that the attack was not being treated as terrorism-related at this stage.
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “sickening”, while political leaders in Northern Ireland urged the public not to allow anger over the incident to spill into disorder. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said people should not share footage of the attack, both because of the distress caused to the victim’s family and because of the ongoing investigation. He also warned against people outside Northern Ireland using social media to stir up tensions.
The case has prompted wider political debate because of the suspect’s immigration status, with some politicians calling for deportation if he is convicted. Naomi Long, Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, said the incident should not be used to stigmatise communities, while Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly both condemned the violence and appealed for a measured response. Police said members of the public who intervened helped save the victim’s life, and officers have increased their presence in the area amid concerns about possible protests and online misinformation.