Anti-Immigration Protests Erupt in Belfast After Sudanese Man Charged in Knife Attack

Jun 9, 2026

A 30-year-old Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder after a brutal knife attack in Belfast left a man in his 40s in serious condition. The incident, captured on video, sparked violent anti-immigration protests, with vehicles set ablaze. Far-right figures amplified calls for demonstrations, while political leaders and police have urged calm and for the graphic footage not to be shared.

Belfast knife attack

▪A man in his 40s was attacked with a knife in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast around 10:30 pm on June 8, 2026.
▪Police recovered a kitchen knife from the scene of the attack.
▪A 30-year-old Sudanese man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article, and threats to kill.
▪The Police Service of Northern Ireland is not treating the incident as terrorism-related at this stage of the investigation.

Suspect immigration history

▪The suspect was not on any national security databases and was not previously known to police in Northern Ireland.
▪The suspect is a 30-year-old Sudanese national who was granted refugee status and leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
▪The suspect traveled from Dublin to Belfast by bus on February 10, 2023, and claimed asylum on that date.

Community intervention efforts

▪Police praised the public's intervention as "heroic" and credited them with saving the victim's life.
▪Members of the public intervened to stop the attack before police arrived, with one man using a hurling stick against the assailant.

Victim hospital condition

▪The victim sustained serious injuries including slash wounds to his face, back, and neck, as well as injuries to his eyes.
▪The victim, a man in his 40s, was hospitalized in serious condition following the attack.

Political calls for calm

▪Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson called for an end to "uncontrolled immigration" and the suspect's deportation upon conviction.
▪The leaders of Northern Ireland's five main political parties issued a joint statement condemning the brutality and calling for calm.
▪UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "sickening" and "horrific" attack.
▪Police and political leaders urged the public not to share graphic video of the incident circulating online.

Planned protest warnings

▪Far-right figures, including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and Elon Musk, amplified a video of the attack and called for mass protests.
▪The Belfast Islamic Centre cancelled evening prayers and some Sudanese-owned businesses closed early due to fears of being targeted.
▪Anti-immigration protests took place in Belfast on June 9, 2026, with some protesters setting vehicles, including a bus, on fire.