Anti-immigrant demonstrations erupted across parts of the United Kingdom on Tuesday after a 30-year-old man believed to be from Sudan was charged with attempted murder following a knife attack in Northern Ireland that Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as “horrific.”
In Belfast, masked protesters flooded the streets Tuesday evening, torching homes, vehicles, barricades and a bus as unrest spread across several neighborhoods.
Videos verified by CNN showed houses engulfed in flames in the Northern Irish capital while firefighters and emergency responders rushed through smoke-filled streets.
Similar disturbances were reported in nearby Newtownabbey, where two vehicles were set ablaze, while another car was burned in Kilkeel.
Demonstrations were also reported in several cities across England, Scotland and Wales.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the violence, accusing groups of masked men of “burning families out of their homes” in scenes of “outright thuggery.”
The unrest followed police confirmation that a suspect had been charged over a brutal knife attack that left a man hospitalized with severe injuries to his eyes, face and back.
The incident occurred late Monday night in north Belfast and was captured on video by a witness. The footage, which later spread widely online, showed a man repeatedly stabbing a bloodied victim pinned to the ground before members of the public and police intervened.
Far-right and anti-immigration accounts on social media platform X quickly circulated the video, with several users calling for protests.
Political leaders across Northern Ireland have since denounced the riots and warned against targeting innocent residents.
“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,” First Minister O’Neill posted to X.
“Racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur.”
Starmer also condemned the violence, describing the stabbing as “horrific” and “sickening,” while insisting he had “absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.”
Smaller demonstrations also emerged in cities including Glasgow, Bangor and London, where far-right protesters reportedly clashed with police and chanted anti-immigration slogans.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland acknowledged that “sporadic pockets of disorder” had broken out, with several vehicles set on fire. Authorities appealed for calm and urged protesters to remain peaceful.
“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,” PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.
Police said the stabbing happened around 10:30 p.m. local time on Canard Avenue in Belfast. Officers recovered a kitchen knife at the scene, while the victim, a man in his 40s, was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains in serious condition.
According to police, the suspect travelled from Paris to Dublin before entering Northern Ireland in February 2023. He later sought asylum and was granted permission to remain in the UK until 2028.
Henderson stated there was currently no evidence linking the attack to terrorism but noted investigations were still ongoing.
The suspect, who police said was legally residing in Northern Ireland, remains in custody and faces charges including attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in public and threats to kill. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
The violence comes amid rising racial tensions in Britain, where anti-immigration rhetoric has intensified online and among far-right groups.
Last week, outrage also followed the release of police bodycam footage connected to the death of white student Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in Southampton by a Sikh man.
The case sparked fierce political debate, with some far-right figures accused of using the tragedy to fuel racial hostility.
US Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials also criticized Britain’s migration policies after the attacker’s conviction, prompting sharp reactions from the UK government. The convicted attacker, Vickrum Digwa, was born in Britain.
Northern Ireland has experienced similar unrest in recent years. In Ballymena last year, several nights of racially motivated disorder erupted after two Romanian teenagers were accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The charges against both boys were later dropped.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long condemned the latest violence, accusing some protesters of seeking to destroy the communities they claimed to defend.
“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,” Long said.
“While I recognize and understand the concerns following the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win,” she added.
