Violence erupted in Belfast on Tuesday night as anti-immigration protesters set a bus on fire and torched vehicles and properties, following calls for demonstrations by far-right figures including Elon Musk and Tommy Robinson. The unrest came hours after a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker was charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing attack in north Belfast on Monday that left a man critically injured.
Details of the Violence
Masked individuals hijacked and burned a Glider bus on Newtownards Road in east Belfast. Cars were also set alight near Shankill Road and in Newtownabbey, with smoke billowing as sirens blared and a police helicopter hovered overhead. In one incident near Shankill Road, a group stormed a home occupied by an ethnic minority family, claiming to be 'liberating' it. Two phone shops were looted, and an African shop was set on fire.
Police Response
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson appealed for calm, stating, 'Sporadic pockets of disorder have broken out... We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk.' He called on community leaders to encourage peaceful protest.
Political Condemnation
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill condemned the violence, calling it 'outright thuggery' and warning of 'dangerous attempts to exploit' the attack. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane described the scenes as 'shameful,' while Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long said demonstrators were 'intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect.'
Background of the Stabbing
The stabbing occurred at 10:30 pm Monday outside flats in north Belfast. Video showed a man attacking another with a knife, causing serious injuries to his eyes, face, and back. The suspect, charged with attempted murder and other offenses, was granted leave to remain in the UK in September 2023. He traveled from Sudan to Paris, then to Dublin, and finally to Belfast by bus in February 2023, where he claimed asylum. Police Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said there was no evidence of a terrorist motive.
Community Impact
Immigrant communities expressed fear. Sudanese business owners on Sandy Row closed early, and the Belfast Islamic Centre canceled evening prayers. Project manager Ameer Ibrahim advised, 'Go home, don't go out, look after your children.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack 'sickening' and thanked those who intervened.
