Key facts
- A Sudanese man, an asylum seeker with leave to remain until 2028, was arrested for a stabbing in north Belfast.
- The victim, a man in his 40s, is in serious condition.
- Northern Ireland leaders and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have appealed for calm.
- There are fears of renewed anti-immigrant intimidation and protests.
- The suspect arrived in the region via Dublin.
Northern Ireland leaders and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are appealing for calm following a stabbing incident in north Belfast, for which a Sudanese man has been arrested. The suspect, who arrived in the region via Dublin and holds leave to remain status until 2028, is believed to have claimed asylum after arriving from Sudan.
The attack has raised concerns about renewed anti-immigrant intimidation, similar to events experienced last summer. Prime Minister Starmer condemned the incident as "sickening" and pledged zero tolerance for such violence. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has been in contact with the region's police chief to discuss measures to prevent anti-immigrant violence.
The victim, a man in his 40s, is in serious condition with multiple stab wounds. Police are questioning the suspect and have appealed to the public not to share footage of the attack online, as social media platforms have seen widespread sharing of the incident's aftermath, fueling public anger.