Sudanese Asylum Seeker Charged with Attempted Murder in Brutal North Belfast Knife Attack
Autorities have revealed that the asylum seeker who nearly beheaded a young man in Belfast last night took a flight from Paris to Dublin in 2023.
The suspect is a Sudanese national in his 30s who was living legally in the UK with leave to remain until 2028. He entered the country in 2023, claimed asylum upon arrival in Northern Ireland, and was granted refugee status the same year.
According to authorities, his journey involved traveling illegally from Sudan to France in 2022, then flying from Paris to Dublin before taking a bus to Belfast, where he claimed asylum. He had been residing in the local area.
Police initially described the suspect as believed to be Somali but later corrected this to Sudanese. He has been charged with attempted murder and remains in custody. Investigators have stated there is currently no information to suggest a terrorism motive.
Northern Ireland’s Police Service (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson and Chief Constable Jon Boutcher addressed the incident, appealing for calm and noting strong community concerns. UK Home Office officials confirmed the suspect’s immigration status.
The attack has sparked large protests in Belfast that ultimately turned violent. Videos online showed vehicles and a public transport bus engulfed in flames as demonstrators took to the streets, with significant disruption as emergency services responded to multiple incidents.
Protesters set fire to vehicles and a Glider bus in East Belfast, while road blockades and disturbances spread to other areas. Public transport was suspended in affected areas as police worked to restore order.
