Starmer condemns 'abhorrent scenes' after Belfast knife attack

The incident, which is not currently being treated as terrorism, comes at a time of heightened tensions in Britain related to immigration and asylum policy. Masked youths gathered at points across the city, with police deploying armoured vehicles. Youths set fire to a bus in east Belfast, television pictures showed.

Northern Ireland's Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson, who declared it a 'critical incident,' stated that the victim suffered significant injuries to his eyes and slash wounds to his face and back during the 'brutal' attack, with a kitchen knife found at the scene. Footage showed members of the public attempting to fight off the attacker before police arrived.

The suspect, a 30-year-old Sudanese national who reportedly lives locally and was granted leave to remain in the UK in September 2023, was charged on Tuesday evening with attempted murder, possession of an article with blade or point in a public place and threats to kill. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the suspect was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland and had no trace on national security databases.