Knife attack sparks unrest as Belfast erupts in anti-immigration riots

Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, Naomi Long, has said that recent violence in Belfast was encouraged by people online who have little connection to the city.

The unrest followed a knife attack in Belfast on Monday. A 30-year-old Sudanese refugee has been charged with attempted murder and is expected to appear in court. Police have said there is no evidence that the attack was related to terrorism.

On Tuesday night, masked groups set fire to vehicles and buildings in Belfast, forcing some families to flee their homes. A major cleanup operation began on Wednesday morning.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Long said many people were genuinely shocked and frightened by the knife attack, but some individuals online were using those fears to spread anti-immigration and racist messages.

She said people who had likely never visited Belfast were encouraging unrest online and turning public concern about the stabbing into hostility towards immigrants.

According to Long, targeting people because of their skin colour is racism and cannot be justified in any other way.

Anna Turley, a UK Cabinet Office minister and Labour Party chair, also blamed social media for worsening tensions. She said some people living far away from affected communities were helping to inflame the situation online.

When asked about billionaire Elon Musk, Turley said public figures have a responsibility not to encourage division, hatred or anger that could put vulnerable people at risk.

Musk had shared posts about the Belfast stabbing on X, including comments from right-wing figures criticizing immigration policies.

Police have launched a “critical incident” investigation into the violence. Video footage of the stabbing circulated online, showing a man attacking another person with a knife.

Authorities revealed that the suspect entered Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland in February 2023 after flying to Dublin from Paris. He applied for asylum and was granted permission to remain in the UK until 2028.

The incident has renewed calls from some politicians for tighter controls on movement across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Carla Lockhart, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP, said the government needed to address concerns over border security. Asked to condemn the attacks on homes during the unrest, she responded that she condemned all violence.

Police continue to investigate both the stabbing and the subsequent disorder in Belfast.