What do we know about the Belfast knife attack?
By David Young, Press Association
A man remains in a serious condition in hospital in Belfast after a serious knife attack in the north of the city on Monday evening.
A man arrested at the scene has been charged with attempted murder and is due to appear in court on Wednesday.
Here is what we know about the incident so far:
Time and location:
The attack unfolded around 10.30pm on Monday evening in Kinnaird Avenue, a residential street close to the Antrim Road in north Belfast.
Incident details:
Graphic video footage captured of the attack appears to show a man repeatedly stabbing at the head and neck of a prone victim lying on the ground.
The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the assault continuing.
Police arrived on the scene within minutes and a man was arrested. A kitchen knife was also recovered from the scene.
The victim:
A man in his 40s.
Police said he sustained significant injuries to his eyes and serious slash wounds to his back and face.
He remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday evening.
The accused:
A man aged 30.
Police initially said he was believed to be from Somali but later clarified he is a Sudanese national.
He lived close to where the attack took place.
He has been charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with blade or point in a public place, and making threats to kill.
The man is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
In Northern Ireland, the authorities do not release the name of accused persons before they appear in court.
Immigration status:
The accused was granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom on September 28th, 2023.
He applied for asylum status on arrival in Northern Ireland in February of the same year having travelled to Belfast on a bus from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
Previously he had travelled from Sudan to Paris on dates unknown and subsequently flew from Paris to Dublin, again on a date unknown.
The man has been granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
Police investigation:
Police in Northern Ireland have ruled out a terror-related motivate for the attack at this point but detectives have stressed that the investigation is at a very early stage and they are keeping an open mind.
Response:
Politicians across the UK have condemned the incident.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer branded it “sickening” while the leaders of the five main parties at Stormont issued a rare joint statement voicing their concern.
The politicians also appealed for calm amid fears that anti-immigration protests organised in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK could turn violent.
