A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a serious assault involving a knife on Monday night. Police have called on the public not to share graphic video footage which has appeared on social media.
Authorities say the knife attack happened at around 10:30 p.m. in the Kinnaird Avenue area of north Belfast. The suspect, a man in his 30s who police believe to be Somalian, has not yet been publicly identified and remains in police custody.
The victim, a man in his 40s whose name has also not been disclosed, was taken to hospital after suffering injuries to his face, neck and back. His condition is described as serious.
The incident has prompted condemnation from the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described it as sickening and said that he has “absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson declared the attack a critical incident, reassuring the community that officers are doing everything they can to keep Belfast residents safe.
“This brutal attack will have sent shockwaves through the community causing real concern. I want to reassure the local community that we are treating this attack with the utmost seriousness,” he said in a statement.
“Our investigation is continuing at pace. Community safety is our priority and we are currently engaging with local representatives and residents to provide reassurance and support. Our officers were on the scene within minutes and we wish to acknowledge the members of the public who strived to save the man from further attack.”
An investigation into the attack is trying to identify the knifeman’s motive. Meanwhile, Henderson has asked the public to stop circulating footage of the attack, as “doing so risks causing further trauma to the injured man’s loved ones and may impact the ongoing investigation.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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