African asylum seeker tries to 'behead' man in Belfast, anti-immigration stir erupts

A gruesome knife attack in Belfast, in which the assailant allegedly tried to behead a man, has triggered widespread outrage and violent anti-immigration unrest across Northern Ireland.

Authorities have charged a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker with attempted murder after the attack, which left the man fighting for his life and ignited public anger that spilled onto the streets.

Hundreds of protesters joined demonstrations across the region, with some torching vehicles, attacking property and clashing with police.

Police described the assault, which took place on Monday night, as "brutal." The victim, believed to be in his 40s, suffered serious injuries to his neck, head and face.

Officers recovered a kitchen knife from the scene and launched a major investigation.

Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson declared the incident a "critical incident" and appealed for calm.

"I understand that last night's attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions, from fear to anger," Henderson said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as "sickening".

PROTESTS ERUPT ACROSS BELFAST

Hours after the suspect was charged, hundreds of anti-immigrant protesters gathered across Belfast. Masked youths assembled at several locations as police deployed armoured vehicles to contain the disorder.

Several vehicles, including a bus in east Belfast, were set on fire. Local media reported that groups of protesters targeted homes, smashing windows and kicking in doors in some areas. Footage also showed a house engulfed in flames.

A smaller demonstration was also held in London's Parliament Square.

The unrest comes amid heightened tensions over immigration in Britain and follows previous anti-immigration protests in Northern Ireland.

SUDANESE NATIONAL CHARGED

Police charged a 30-year-old Sudanese national with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place and making threats to kill.

The suspect is scheduled to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Authorities said he had been granted leave to remain in the UK in September 2023 after seeking asylum. Investigators said he travelled to Belfast from Dublin in February 2023 after arriving in Ireland from Paris.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the suspect was not known to police and had no record on national security databases.

"There is no trace of this suspect on any of our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland," Boutcher said.

POLITICAL LEADERS URGE CALM

Northern Ireland's main political party leaders jointly condemned the knife attack as "horrific" and called for restraint.

They warned that retaliatory violence and disorder would only deepen divisions and harm local communities as police continue their investigation into the attack, which is not currently being treated as an act of terrorism.