A Sudanese immigrant was arrested in Belfast after a video showed him attempting to behead a man on the street, prompting national outrage. Police received reports of the incident at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time on Monday. The video depicted the suspect, believed to be in his 30s, attacking a man in his 40s who was pinned to the ground and bleeding. Bystanders intervened, with one using a shovel to strike the attacker, allowing the victim to escape.
Police arrested the suspect during the altercation. Initial reports incorrectly identified him as Somali but were later corrected to Sudanese. The victim sustained severe injuries but survived and was taken to the hospital. The suspect faces charges of attempted murder.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland stated that the attacker acted alone and that the incident is not being treated as a terrorist attack. He urged the public not to share the video of the attack to avoid causing further trauma to the victim's family and to protect the ongoing investigation.
Unionist MP Gavin Robinson claimed in Parliament that the attacker was in the UK on a five-year visa and had entered from Ireland. He called for the attacker to be convicted and deported. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the UK regarding immigration and race, following the murder of a university student in police custody.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanded transparency regarding the attacker's identity and status, while other political figures criticized government immigration policies. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as horrific and expressed support for the victim and first responders. Nationwide protests were announced in response to the incident, with police monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.
