Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a man following a violent stabbing in Belfast that left a victim with severe injuries to his face, neck, and back. The incident, which occurred shortly after 10:30 pm on Monday in the New Lodge area, has drawn widespread condemnation and prompted far-right figures in the United Kingdom to call for protests.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the arrested man is in his 30s and is believed to be of Somalian origin. He was detained on suspicion of attempted murder. The victim, a man in his 40s, remains in hospital with serious injuries.
Graphic Video Sparks Outrage
Video footage posted to social media shows the suspect stabbing the victim multiple times in the head with a knife, in what appears to be an attempted beheading. The PSNI has declared the attack a “critical incident” and is investigating the motive.
“This brutal attack will have sent shockwaves through the community causing real concern,” said PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson. “We have commenced an investigation to establish a motive. I want to reassure the local community that we are treating this attack with the utmost seriousness. Our investigation is continuing at pace.”
Local media reported that police recovered a knife from the scene. The PSNI has appealed for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam or CCTV footage to come forward.
Political Reactions
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “horrific” and “sickening,” stating, “I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets. My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the incident as “harrowing” and urged the public to “give the PSNI the space it needs to carry out a full investigation so that justice can be done.”
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the UK following violent skirmishes last week in Southampton over the police handling of the December murder of a young white student stabbed to death by a British Sikh man. That case has been seized upon by anti-immigration activists, including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, who shared the graphic video of the Belfast stabbing and demanded immediate protests.
The incident also echoes broader European debates about public safety and migration, though police have not yet established a motive. The PSNI’s investigation is ongoing.
