Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after 'brutal' knife attack in Belfast

A man believed to be Sudanese has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a "brutal" knife attack in Belfast, police have said.

The man, in his 30s, remains in custody after the incident in north Belfast at about 22:30 BST on Monday. Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Police have said they recovered what they believe to be a kitchen knife at the scene.

Video circulating online shows a number of people, including one wielding a hurling stick, confronting the apparent attacker until the police arrived.

A man injured in the attack, aged in his 40s, is in hospital where his condition is described as serious.

Police said he had serious slash wounds to his back and face and had eye injuries as well.

The Home Office said the attacker was on leave to remain in the UK until 2028. He entered the UK in 2023 and was granted refugee status the same year.

"The individual claims to have entered the UK via the Common Travel Area", a spokesperson said.

An initial statement from the PSNI on Tuesday morning said police believed the attacker was Somali, but have since confirmed he is Sudanese.

The chief constable Jon Boutcher said he understood the suspect made his way from Sudan to Paris before flying to Dublin, and then travelling by bus to Belfast on 10 February 2023 - the date on which he claimed asylum.

"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 told reporters at Stormont.

He appealed to the public to "please let the PSNI, let the police do their jobs, unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder".

"Do not let people who know nothing about Northern Ireland impact on the behaviours of our people in Northern Ireland from afar through social media," he said.

Speaking at a press conference, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said that, after liaising with counter-terrorism partners, "at this stage we have no information to suggest this was a terrorist-related incident," but stressed the investigation was at its early stages.

A spokesperson earlier said police are "aware of inaccurate online posts regarding the victim's condition", but confirmed he remains in a serious condition.

He asked the public not to speculate.

ACC Henderson said the police are aware of calls for protests on Tuesday, and have appealed for calm.

He also said there will be an increased police presence across Northern Ireland in the coming days and that the PSNI has received offers of assistance from other police forces in the UK.

A number of businesses have said they are closing early.

Translink is currently planning to operate bus and rail services as normal.

The Belfast Health Trust said it was aware of potential protests and urged staff with "concerns about safe travel" to discuss working arrangements with line managers.

The Driver and Vehicle Agency said it has rebooked all driver and vehicle tests scheduled after 17:00 BST.

A local resident, who did not wish to be named, and who alerted police to the attack said she was "standing in the street shaking" while making the call.

She told BBC News NI how she was in her home with her partner and children when they heard screaming outside.

She said a delivery driver handed his phone to her so she could talk to 999. I said: "You just need to get here, he's gonna die".

"I haven't watched (the video) myself because what I saw was traumatic enough for me," she said.

She said others, including children, had begun to gather in the street and described how some people tried to intervene.

The woman said she had "never seen anything like it".

"The police came and I kept my kids in the house; I was just absolutely petrified."

In the wake of the attack, she said she is "fearful" to walk to her local shop alone, and is "absolutely petrified" to allow her children to play in the street.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he will have "absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets".

"The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening," the prime minister said.

"My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened."

The Northern Ireland secretary said the attack was "deeply shocking".

"I would like to thank the individuals who showed extraordinary bravery in coming to his aid," said Hilary Benn.

Benn appealed for calm and warned of the impact of violent street disorder in Ballymena in County Antrim and Belfast in recent years.

"We all have a responsibility to urge calm while the police do their job, so that the perpetrator of this horrific attack faces the full force of the law," he said.

He said that "any foreign national who abuses the hospitality of this country to commit crimes should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them".

He was speaking in the House of Commons in response to an urgent question from the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Gavin Robinson described the stabbing as "chilling" and "medieval" as he praised members of the public who intervened.

Robinson asked the government to recognise "uncontrolled immigration needs to end".

"The perpetrator living in the UK under a five-year visa needs to be convicted and deported on the first flight out on a one-way ticket," he told the house.

He also appealed for calm.

Emergency services were called to the Kinnaird Avenue area in north Belfast on Monday night.

ACC Henderson said she "shared the public's revulsion at the brutal nature of this attack".

ACC Henderson said there will be an "increased police presence across Northern Ireland this evening" to keep people safe.

In an earlier statement, he said police had declared "a critical incident" has been declared and police have begun an investigation to establish a motive.

"I want to reassure the local community that we are treating this attack with the utmost seriousness."

Henderson told the press conference that police were on the scene within minutes.

ACC Henderson said those people who intervened were "heroic" and that they "saved the life" of the victim.

He said he understands there is "considerable" posting on social media and people have "real concerns", however, he asked the public "to be very mindful of what they share online" as the sharing of footage could increase the risk of further trauma for the injured man's family.

In a joint statement, Northern Ireland's five main political parties are "united" in their condemnation of the "horrific incident".

It was signed by Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, the Alliance Party's Naomi Long, Jon Burrows from the UUP, the DUP's Gavin Robinson, and Claire Hanna from the SDLP.

"There is no place in our society for this kind of brutality," they said, adding that their thoughts are with the victim, his family, all those who witnessed the attack, "as well as those brave members of the public who intervened".

Party leaders acknowledged "the distress and fear this incident will cause", but urged "people not to share the deeply disturbing images or videos".

Backing the PSNI and their ongoing investigations, they urged anyone with information or relevant footage to contact police.

"We are committed to ensuring that violence and hatred in any form will not be allowed to divide our communities.

"We call for calm and for space to allow justice to take its course."

First Minister Michelle O'Neill described the attack as "harrowing".

"I also want to recognise the bravery of members of the local community who put their own safety at risk in an effort to stop this vicious attack."

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, said "there is no place for this kind of horrific violence in our community", adding this was a time to "remain calm and lawful and allow the police to do their job".

She appealed for communities not to allow "those who want to take the pain, the suffering, the genuine concern in those communities and weaponise it for other purposes".

Long described an encounter she had with a young woman on Tuesday who was from Somalia - the country where, at that time, the police believed the attacker originated from.

"She was shaking and in tears because she is so frightened and so upset about what has happened. And there is no reason why she should feel guilt or fear.

"And that's what we need to focus on... ensuring our communities are safe for everyone, whether they're a foreign national or whether they've lived here their whole lives."

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said people across Northern Ireland were "sickened and appalled" by what had happened.

"I know emotions are running high - there is anger and concern, but I do urge everyone to remain calm to allow the police to carry out their investigation and allow people to establish the full facts."

Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, said she was "absolutely horrified" by the attack.

"I think a lot of people will start wondering yet again, is this someone who should not have been in our country? Have there been failings around our borders?

"I would urge the police to bring the facts out as quickly as possible so that we can get some clarity," she said.

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage described the attack as "horrific".

"The authorities must reveal the identity and status of the attacker immediately.

"The public are entitled to the truth."

Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, has told people to "demand answers" around the attack.

Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said the "only bright spot in this dark orgy of violence" was the group of locals who stopped the attack.

A statement from the North West Migrants Forum said they are "absolutely horrified" by the news and recognise that people will be "traumatised" by what they witnessed.

"Our members are also frightened. Good, decent, honest men and women fretting this morning about what last night's attack will mean for them."

Jahswill Emmanuel, the founder of Multi-Ethnic Sports and Cultures Northern Ireland, said he is "saddened by the situation and [his] prayers and thoughts are with the victim and his loved ones".

Speaking to the BBC's Evening Extra programme he said he wants to reassure the community that "we are right here beside the family of the victim".

"Anybody would be angry with this incident. But this is our community. My son and daughter were born here, we have no other place to go. So now we have to work together, alongside the police.

"We are still one as a community. Don't let one person divide us."