Key facts
- A Sudanese man, 30, was arrested in Belfast following a knife attack.
- The victim, in his 40s, sustained serious injuries to his eyes, face, and back.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident as "sickening".
- Northern Ireland police appealed for calm amid heightened tensions and online calls for protest.
- The attack is not currently being treated as terrorism.
Police in Northern Ireland have appealed for calm after arresting a Sudanese man in connection with a "brutal" knife attack that left a man in his 40s with serious injuries. The incident, which occurred late Monday evening in north Belfast, has prompted online calls for protests and comes amid heightened tensions in Britain related to immigration and asylum policy.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson described the attack, which involved a kitchen knife, as "brutal" and declared it a "critical incident." He appealed for calm and the safety of all communities, noting that the victim suffered significant injuries to his eyes, face, and back. The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese national who reportedly lives locally after being granted leave to remain, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.