Belfast erupts in anti-immigrant riots after Sudanese refugee charged with knife attack
Masked groups set fire to homes, vehicles and a bus in Belfast overnight after a Sudanese refugee was charged with a knife attack that left a man critically injured.
The attack and the suspect
A Sudanese refugee has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a sharp object in a public place and death threats following a knife attack in Belfast on Monday. The victim, a man in his forties, was hospitalised in a serious condition with significant eye injuries and wounds to his back and face. The suspect arrived in Northern Ireland in 2023 by bus from the Republic of Ireland, having previously travelled from France, and was granted refugee status with a residence permit valid until 2028. Police have not classified the incident as a terrorist attack but say they are keeping all options open.
A night of violence
Hundreds of people, some with faces covered, gathered at several points across the Northern Irish capital on Tuesday night. The protests escalated into arson attacks on buses, private vehicles and homes. Firefighters evacuated residents from burning buildings. One resident, Eemran, a 41-year-old engineer of Indian origin, described the scene: "They threw Molotov cocktails and suddenly the fire spread. Smoke started coming out of the building and the firefighters told us to get out." BBC footage showed police officers helping a family escape their home as it burned.
Political condemnation
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the riots "shocking" and "completely unacceptable" on Wednesday.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill condemned the scenes on X.Nothing can justify the violence and disorder we have seen, which threaten our communities, nor the actions of those who have encouraged them, online or elsewhere. It is clear that people were attacked last night because of their origin, and I will not tolerate it.
The fact that groups of hooded men set fire to homes where families live is an act of repulsive cowardice.
Far-right instigation
Justice Minister Naomi Long accused far-right figures of using social media to stoke racial tension.
Calls to protest came from far-right activist Tommy Robinson and were amplified by American billionaire Elon Musk. The attack video circulated widely online, with some reports suggesting it showed an attempted decapitation.This is the pure definition of racism. Yesterday we saw an avalanche on social media from far-right commentators who were clearly trying to foment racial tension, leaning on the narrative they promote about immigration.
Community fears
Immigrant families were forcibly driven from their homes during the unrest. Sudanese and Somali residents in Northern Ireland — the latter nationality having been initially misattributed to the attacker — now fear reprisals. The violence taps into a broader UK context where anti-immigration parties are gaining ground in polls, and Reform UK, Nigel Farage's populist party, has been accused of exploiting such incidents. In Northern Ireland, the added layer of Catholic-Protestant rivalry raises the risk of further escalation.
