Duncan Lindsay
Published June 9, 2026 9:42pm
Updated June 9, 2026 10:49pm
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Starmer has issued a firm condemnation of the Belfast violence(Picture: PA/Reuters)
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Northern Ireland’s political parties are among notable names to condemn the hacking attack in Belfast that has left a man, in his 40s, in a serious condition in hospital.
The victim of the Belfast stabbing suffered ‘significant injuries to his eyes and serious slash wound injuries to his back and face’, police have said.
Now, a Sudanese man aged 30 has been arrested in the wake of the brutal incident, too horrifying to publish footage of, charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with blade or point in a public place and threats to kill.
Threats of riots have since broken out in Belfast, with an anti-immigration mob setting fire to a bus.
In London, a protest led by Tommy Robinson and influenced by Elon Musk has been causing significant scenes of chaos.
Robinson issued a rallying cry: ‘The whole of the United Kingdom is hitting the streets tonight following yet another invader attack on our people.’
It has been met by crowds with banners reading ‘no racism, just patriotism’, ‘enough is enough’ and ‘end two tier policing, end two tier justice’.
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Disorder has been breaking out in Belfast (Picture: PA)
Tommy Robinson has made a call for protest (Picture: Getty)
They began chanting ‘secure our borders, mass deportation’, ‘stop the boats, send them home’ and ‘Keir Starmer’s a w*****’ Others demanded their ‘country back’.
Robinson has since added, with images of the flame consumed bus: ‘Belfast is burning. Britain’s politicians have failed us all.’
With disorder intensifying, Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long stated: ‘The only people who will be harmed if there is unrest on our streets are innocent people.
‘The only thing that will be achieved is further victims.
‘And so I’m asking for people to be calm, to be rational at a time when it is easy to be irrational, because you’re hurt, you’re upset, and you’re angry and because there are bad faith actors who want to stir trouble.
‘It is not in the interests of anyone in Northern Ireland for us to see our community torn apart in these instances.
‘And I understand that many people from our ethnic minority and foreign national community will be fearful today.
‘One individual doing one awful act is not representative of everyone who lives in Northern Ireland, nor should we allow it to become so.’
Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan added: ‘It is important that people do conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to make sure that the key issues here around immigration can be heard and we are not distracted by any form of violence.
“That will only distract. People should express their views in a peaceful manner.’
In the wake of the attack, leading MPs have released statements condemning the violent act.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening.
‘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.’
FOLLOW THE LATEST FROM BELFAST IN OUR LIVE BLOGEarlier on Tuesday June 9, the leaders of five of Northern Ireland’s main political parties issued a joint statement.
It came from the leaders of Alliance, Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party, and the Ulster Unionist Party.
‘There is no place in our society for this kind of brutality.
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Previous Page Next Page‘Our immediate thoughts are with the victim and his family, and we hope he makes a full and complete recovery. Our thoughts are also with those eye-witnesses to the incident, as well as those brave members of the public who intervened.
‘We recognise the distress and fear this incident will cause within the local community.
‘We urge people not to share the deeply disturbing images or videos, as their graphic nature would only serve to re-traumatise those involved.’
‘We are committed to ensuring that violence and hatred in any form will not be allowed to divide our communities. We call for calm and for space to allow justice to take its course.’
Re-posted on X by leader Nigel Farage, Reform MP Zia Yusuf shared: ‘4 months ago I announced that a Reform government would impose a TOTAL BAN on visas for anyone from Sudan.
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Disarray in Belfast has been intensifying (Picture: Getty)
‘We also announced we would deport all illegal migrants, and abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain.
‘Prime Minister Farage will reverse the invasion and ensure you no longer.’
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Leader of DUP, Gavin Robinson, waded into the situation, declaring: ‘North Belfast has witnessed a shocking and brutal act of violence.
‘My thoughts are with the victim and their family.
‘People have a right to feel safe in their community. The police should outline the facts as a matter of urgency.
‘Those responsible must face the full consequences of their actions. There can be absolutely no tolerance for such barbaric violence on our streets’
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