Homes burned in anti-immigrant protests in Ireland

BELFAST — Masked men burned families out of their homes in a wave of anti-immigrant violence on Tuesday night following a knife attack that led to the charging of a Sudanese man, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said.

Hundreds of protesters, many of them masked, clashed with police and set vehicles on fire at multiple locations across Northern Ireland after footage of the stabbing circulated widely online. The attack left one person with serious neck and head injuries.

Homes were seen burning across the city on Tuesday evening. Video broadcast by BBC showed police assisting a family as they escaped from a burning house.

“There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight,” O’Neill said in a statement. “Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice.”

‘Sickening’ knife attack triggers unrest

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the initial stabbing in north Belfast late Monday as “sickening.”

Authorities said the incident is not currently being treated as terrorism. It comes amid heightened tensions in Britain following several high-profile violent incidents and ongoing political debate over immigration and asylum policy.

The violence also follows repeated protests linked to immigration, with populist groups claiming that Britain’s asylum system has allowed dangerous individuals into the country. Northern Ireland experienced similar anti-immigrant unrest last year amid outrage over an alleged sexual assault case.

Vehicles burned across the city

Masked youths gathered in multiple areas of Belfast on Tuesday evening, prompting a large police response, including the deployment of armored vehicles. Several vehicles, including a bus in east Belfast, were set on fire.

According to BBC reporting, around 100 individuals forced entry into homes on a street in east Belfast, breaking doors and windows.

“They’re getting put out just because they’re Black,” said Pastor Jack McKee in comments to BBC after attacks in northern parts of the city.

Suspect charged

Police charged a 30-year-old Sudanese national on Tuesday evening with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and threats to kill. He is scheduled to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The victim, a man in his 40s, sustained severe injuries to his eyes, face, and back during what police described as a “brutal” attack. A kitchen knife was recovered at the scene, according to Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson.

Authorities said members of the public intervened before police arrived and were credited with helping save the victim’s life.

Political leaders across Northern Ireland jointly condemned the violence, describing the stabbing as “horrific” and urging calm, warning that further unrest would only deepen harm to local communities. -Reporting by Amanda Ferguson in Belfast and Conor Humphries in Dublin; Writing by Michael Holden and Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Kate Holton, Alex Richardson, Gareth Jones, Nia Williams and Lincoln Feast./Reuters