Politicians from the largest parties in Northern Ireland spoke on Tuesday during a joint press conference. “I am appealing to people to give police the space and time required to conduct a full investigation,” said Michelle O'Neill, First Minister of Sinn Fein.
Her deputy, Emma Little-Pengelly, leader of the DUP, the largest party loyal to London, also appealed for calm. She assessed that the attacker must be convicted as soon as possible, and then – in her opinion – he should be deported.
Naomi Long of the Alliance party warned that residents' emotions could become fuel for people inciting violence for political purposes. “I appeal to individual communities not to allow themselves to be exploited in this way,” she urged.
The head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Jon Boutcher, emphasized that – according to his information – demonstrations were planned for Tuesday evening. He expressed hope that they would not turn into riots similar to those that occurred in the region in 2024 and 2025. – Do not let people who have no idea about Northern Ireland influence the behavior of its inhabitants from a distance, through social media – he appealed.
Identity of the detainee
The British Home Office confirmed that the suspect detained on site came to the United Kingdom in 2023 from the Republic of Ireland. He then explained that he had used the Common Travel Area, a free travel zone established between the north and south of the island. The Home Office informed that the man was granted refugee status and residence permit until 2028.
The PSNI announced that the detainee was a Sudanese, correcting the incorrect information from its previous statement that he was a Somali. According to the police, the detainee lived in the area where the attack took place and had no previous criminal record.
Officers estimate that at the current stage of the investigation, there is no indication that it was a terrorist attack.
Keir Starmer has spoken
The attack occurred on Monday around 10.30 p.m. local time (11.30 p.m. in Poland) near Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast. The attacker was overpowered by people in the area and PSNI chief Jon Boutcher said he believed this saved the victim's life.
The PSNI said the victim was a man in his 40s. He suffered serious injuries to his face, eyes and back; he is currently in hospital. The police said that the attacker used a kitchen knife.
The incident was condemned by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “I have no tolerance for such terrible scenes of violence on our streets,” he wrote on social media.
The police are appealing to people not to send the brutal recording of the incident circulating online, as it may interfere with the investigation and cause suffering to the victim's family.
