Sudanese Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Knife Attack Leaves Victim, 40s, with Serious Face, Neck and Back Injuries in North Belfast

A man in his 40s was taken to hospital in serious condition after a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night. Police described significant injuries to his face, neck and back. A suspect believed to be in his 30s faces a charge of attempted murder.

Police initially identified the suspect as Somalian before later stating he is of Sudanese descent. It was not clear if the suspect was born in the United Kingdom. Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said the incident was a deeply concerning assault and declared it a critical incident.

He added that officers had begun an investigation to establish a motive. Police scheduled a news conference in Belfast on Tuesday afternoon to provide an update. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack sickening.

He said he had absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on the streets. Democratic Unionist Party Leader Gavin Robinson described the attack as medieval in nature. Leaders from across Northern Ireland’s political spectrum, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill of Sinn Féin, issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the attack, expressing condolences to the victim and family, and urging calm.

The leaders said it is essential that the facts are established through proper investigation and due process. They also urged people on social media not to share or repost graphic videos or images related to the incident. Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, said separately that no good will come of sharing the material or of turning on each other in this society, including for the clout of online voices who do not know or care about the community.

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage reposted an image of a person with an arm raised and kneeling on a street, with blocks placed over the faces of two individuals. The North West Migrants Forum, a charity that assists newcomers in Northern Ireland, said it was horrified by the incident and praised bystanders who helped the victim or helped apprehend the attacker.

The forum appealed for calm and referenced the decades-long conflict between Catholics and Protestants that largely ended with agreements in 1998.

It said the overwhelming majority of people who come through its doors desire only to live in peace and build a life for themselves and their families. British Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch called on police to bring the facts out as quickly as possible so that clarity can be obtained in the Belfast incident.