Intense protests and rioting erupted in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Tuesday, June 9 in response to a horrific stabbing attack carried out by a Sudanese asylum seeker a night before.
On the evening of June 8, a knife attack occurred on Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast. A man in his 40s sustained serious injuries, including slash wounds to his face, neck, and back, as well as significant damage to his eyes.
The savage attack has been described as an attempted beheading, as disturbing footage of the incident shows the attacker repeatedly sawing at the victim’s neck.
A 30-year-old Sudanese national, who entered the UK in 2023 via Dublin and was granted refugee status that year (with leave to remain until 2028), was arrested and charged with attempted murder, possession of a blade or point in a public place, and threats to kill. He made an initial court appearance on Tuesday and remains in custody.
The attack prompted intense anti-immigration protests across Belfast, Northern Ireland and other parts of the U.K. on Tuesday. The unrest has been intense in Belfast, as masked protesters set several vehicles on fire, including a Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast and other cars. Bins were placed in roads and ignited, blocking routes and creating thick smoke that could be seen across the city via aerial footage.
Multiple homes also caught fire, some of which were caused by the initial vehicle fires, with reports of blazes on Lendrick Street in east Belfast and properties off the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Fire services responded to several incidents, and residents were evacuated or assisted by emergency personnel.
Old tram set alight in Belfast by protestors. pic.twitter.com/FEObx8i8Zc
— Patriotic
Nation (@HoodedClaw1974) June 9, 2026
In some locations, such as Lendrick Street, accounts described masked individuals damaging doors and properties, with fires spreading from burning vehicles to nearby homes. Additional reports noted attacks on businesses, such as a Turkish barber shop in Ballyclare, County Antrim, where windows and doors were smashed.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers deployed in increased numbers, with armoured vehicles and helicopters used for monitoring. The unrest remains ongoing as the clock approaches midnight local time.
BREAKING:
Rioters are breaking into migrant HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation, a form of taxpayer-funded housing for asylum seekers) in Belfast and setting them ablaze.
It’s a difficult night for firefighters in Belfast with fires reported in several parts of the city. pic.twitter.com/lOlgBXzOH7
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 9, 2026
Rupert Lowe, leader of the Restore Britain party and MP for Great Yarmouth, condemned U.K. political leaders for creating the conditions that allowed for Monday’s stabbing attack. “We must stop harbouring those who wish to decapitate children,” Lowe said. “A vast number of people need to be removed from our country — when I say vast, I mean it. Millions and millions need to leave or be made to leave.”
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