Anti-immigrant riots erupt in Belfast following violent knife attack

On Tuesday, significant anti-immigrant rioting occurred across Belfast, Northern Ireland, following the circulation of a video showing a knife attack on a local man. The attack, which took place late Monday in north Belfast, left a man in his 40s with severe head, face, and back injuries. A 30-year-old Sudanese national has been charged with attempted murder and related weapon offenses, with a scheduled court appearance on Wednesday. In response to the viral video, groups of masked individuals set fire to vehicles, including a bus in east Belfast, and targeted residential homes. Reports indicate that at least 100 people were involved in vandalizing properties, with some families forced to flee burning buildings. First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the violence as cowardice, while Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson declared the situation a critical incident. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also denounced the initial knife attack, which is not currently classified as terrorism. Protests linked to these tensions were also reported in London's Parliament Square.