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
Story comments
Loading comments…