TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Protests and unrest broke out across parts of Belfast on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, after police arrested a Sudanese asylum seeker in connection with a knife attack that left a local man seriously injured.
According to ABC News, the violence followed an incident on Monday night in which a man in his 40s was allegedly stabbed by another man around 10:30 p.m. local time. Police said the suspect was quickly restrained by members of the public before being arrested.
The victim suffered serious injuries to his eyes, along with slash wounds to his face and back, but remained in stable condition, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.
The suspect was identified by police as a 30-year-old Sudanese man who had previously been granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum. Authorities said he was expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
The attack sparked widespread anger and demonstrations in Belfast. Protesters, some wearing masks, gathered in several areas of the city, setting fires and burning at least one bus. Police monitored the unrest throughout the day while urging residents not to engage in violence.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said preliminary information indicated that the suspect traveled from Sudan to Paris before flying to Dublin and later arriving in Belfast in February 2023, when he applied for asylum.
"There is no trace of this suspect on any of our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland," Boutcher said.
Police stressed that there was no evidence suggesting the stabbing was terrorism-related, although investigators are working alongside counterterrorism officials as part of the inquiry.
Authorities also urged the public not to allow the attack to fuel further disorder.
"I understand that last night's attempted murder will leave people feeling enraged, with emotions from fear to anger," Boutcher said. "But please, please let the PSNI do their job."
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill echoed the appeal, calling for calm and warning against those seeking to exploit the incident to spread fear and division.
The victim has not been officially identified by authorities. However, as reported by Hindustan Times, citing The Sun, the injured man was identified by neighbors as 44-year-old Belfast resident Stephen Ogilvie.
According to the report, Ogilvie lived in an apartment near the scene of the attack and suffered what neighbors described as devastating injuries. Police have confirmed that the victim sustained wounds to his eyes, neck, and back.
A local resident told The Sun that the suspect had moved into the area only days before the incident. The neighbor described Ogilvie as someone who had lived in the community for around a year and a half.
The attack gained significant attention online after footage of the incident circulated widely on social media. The video was shared by several prominent far-right figures, including British activist James Robinson, who called for protests in response to the stabbing.
The footage was further amplified when Elon Musk reposted it on X alongside information about planned protest locations in Belfast.
The growing online attention contributed to heightened tensions in the city, where anti-immigration groups gathered following news of the suspect's arrest.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack while maintaining an increased presence in Belfast amid concerns that further demonstrations could take place.
Read: UK: 6 More Charged After Violent Protest Over Stabbing Death
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