A 30-yr-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a knife attack in Belfast last night that left a man in a serious condition.
He was also charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place and threats to kill, and is due to appear in court tomorrow, reports RTE.
A man in his 40s suffered significant injuries to his eyes and serious slash wounds to his back and face after being attacked with a kitchen knife on Kinnaird Avenue in the north of the city at around 10.30pm.
The PSNI’s Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson appealed for calm amid calls for protest, confirming police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the attack, reports RTE.
Speaking to reporters in Belfast, Assistant Chief Constable Henderson said he understood the attack would leave people feeling a range of emotions from fear to anger, and that the PSNI would be increasing its presence on the streets to reassure communities — including minority communities.
“We’re also aware of calls this evening for protest activity across Northern Ireland, and continue to monitor that situation accordingly. Our officers have a role to facilitate and accommodate peaceful protest,” he said, but stressed there should be no repeat of disorder previously seen in the city, reports RTE.
“I share the public repulsion over the brutal nature of this attack, which has created concern not only here in Northern Ireland, but much further afield, and I understand also that there will be questions regarding the nature of the attack.
“No one needs to see a repeat of this. This only causes damage to the community, and unfortunately, young people often get caught up in that disorder, so I appeal for calm and the safety of all of our communities in response to this. All of our focus must be on a criminal justice investigation,” reports RTE.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the suspect was Sudanese and had travelled from Sudan to Paris before flying to Dublin on a date yet to be confirmed, then travelling by bus to Belfast on 10 February 2023, where he applied for asylum and was granted leave to remain.
Mr Boutcher said the individual was not known to police and does not appear on any PSNI crime databases, adding that contact with the UK counter-terrorism chief had not indicated any information pointing to a terrorist motive, reports RTE.
Earlier in the House of Commons, DUP MP Carla Lockhart asked “what action this Government is taking to prevent abuse of our immigration system, including via the land border with the Republic of Ireland,” while the leaders of the main political parties issued a joint statement condemning the “horrific” stabbing.
Assistant Chief Constable Henderson urged the public to be “very mindful of what they share online” after graphic footage of the attack was posted, and praised those in North Belfast who intervened to bring the assault to an end, reports RTE.
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