Police and political leaders have called for calm as protest continue in the streets of Belfast following a horrific knife attack
Vehicles and properties set on fire by protesters on Lendrick Street in Belfast, close to the Newtownards Road(Image: PA)
Police and political leaders in Northern Ireland have appealed for calm after ‘sporadic pockets of disorder’ erupted in a number of areas following demonstrations in response to Monday night’s stabbing attack in Belfast.
Protestors caused chaos across the city, setting fire to a bus, businesses and houses, as firefighters had to remove residents from their homes.
A man arrested on suspicion of Monday’s knife attack has been charged with attempted murder.
The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, is also charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Anti-immigration demonstrations took place in areas across Northern Ireland following Monday night’s incident.
A senior officer said police in the region are currently dealing with “sporadic pockets of disorder” in a number of locations.
Masked males set commercial bins alight and pushed them into the Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city on Tuesday evening. Large crowds gathered in the area and the incident was condemned by Translink, which operates public transport services in the region.
Northern Ireland’s first minister has condemned the action on social media. Michelle O’Neill says that “groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice”.
“This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery,” she adds.
“The attack in north Belfast was heinous and wrong. But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that, to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here.”
Her post adds that racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur.
“There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight. No one wants to see this on our streets and I again appeal for calm.”
In Lendrick Street, a car was set alight and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service officers had to remove some residents from houses after they caught fire.
Police Service of Northern Ireland ([PSNI] Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “Sporadic pockets of disorder have broken out in a number of locations across Northern Ireland this evening, including incidents in which a number of vehicles have been set on fire.
“We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk.
“Officers are on the ground, working alongside partner agencies, responding to incidents as they arise and helping to keep people safe.
“We are again appealing for calm and ask all voices of influence within local communities to encourage peaceful protest and discourage any involvement in violence or disorder.”
Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long said some people had ignored calls for calm.
She said: “They are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect.
“They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes.
“There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.”
She added: “I would appeal once again to communities not to allow themselves to be used and abused in this manner.
“Disorder on the streets, such as we are seeing tonight, is diverting valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them.
“These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities.
“While I recognise and understand the concerns following on from the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win.”
In a social media post, Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said violence does not “advance any cause, it damages it”.
She added: “Destroying things within your own community benefits no one.
“Taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong. Safety is at the heart of so much of the concern.
“Engaging in violence risks your own safety, that of others and fundamentally does any cause or campaign to be heard terrible disservice and damage.”
The victim of Monday’s knife attack, named locally as Stephen Ogilvie, a man aged in his 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds.
Detectives have said there is no indication Monday’s knife attack was terror-related.
Both the police and political leaders appealed for calm in concerns that the protests would turn violent.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched a “critical incident” in response to the incident which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was lying on the ground.
The video shows onlookers, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the Kinnaird Avenue residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.
A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.
Earlier on Tuesday, police revealed details on the arrested man’s immigration status and how he travelled to the UK.
He entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border in February 2023 having flown to Dublin from Paris.
The suspect claimed asylum upon arrival and in September 2023 was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appeared alongside Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Ms Little-Pengelly and Ms Long at a press conference at Stormont on Tuesday afternoon.
Commenting on the prospect of disorder, the police chief warned people against being influenced “from afar through social media”.
“I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling enraged with emotions from fear to anger, but please, please let the PSNI, let the police do their job unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder,” he said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the knife attack.
“The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening,” he said.
“I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.
“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”
Later, the leaders of the five largest parties at Stormont issued a joint statement in response to the attack.
Sinn Féin vice president Ms O’Neill, DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Alliance Party leader Ms Long, UUP leader Jon Burrows and SDLP leader Claire Hanna said they were “united in our condemnation of the horrific incident in North Belfast last night”.
The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue remained cordoned off on Tuesday, with markers visible on the ground where the attack had taken place.
