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A 30-year-old man has been formally charged with attempted murder after a stabbing incident in north Belfast on Monday evening. Alongside this charge, he also faces accusations of possessing a bladed article in a public place and making threats to kill. The accused is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
The victim, a man in his 40s, remains hospitalized with severe injuries affecting his eyes, neck, and back. The attack took place around 22:30 BST on Kinnaird Avenue. Footage that circulated widely on social media showed several individuals confronting the alleged attacker, including one brandishing a hurling stick, until police officers arrived at the scene.
In the aftermath of the stabbing, protests have erupted throughout Northern Ireland. Crowds have gathered in towns including Antrim, Newtownabbey, Ballymena, Bangor, and Belfast. On the Newtownards Road in Belfast, where over 100 people assembled, disturbances included bins being set on fire and a bus catching fire after a bin was pushed against it amid the unrest.
Authorities and political leaders have called for calm in response to the escalating situation. First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) urged people to remain peaceful. Justice Minister Naomi Long also appealed to the public not to participate in protests promoted on social media. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher emphasized that justice should be allowed to take its course, noting that police presence would be intensified in the coming nights and days.
Regarding the alleged attacker, initial statements from the PSNI suggested he was Somali, but they later confirmed his nationality as Sudanese. A kitchen knife, thought to be the weapon used, was recovered at the scene. According to the Home Office, the suspect holds leave to remain in the UK until 2028 and was granted refugee status in 2023 after arriving the same year. A spokesperson explained, “The individual claims to have entered the UK via the Common Travel Area.” Chief Constable Boutcher provided further details, stating the suspect traveled from Sudan to Paris, then flew to Dublin, before taking a bus to Belfast on 10 February 2023—the date he claimed asylum. The suspect was previously unknown to the police and does not appear in any PSNI national security databases
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