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'Outright Thuggery': Politicians Condemn Violent Disorder Following Belfast Knife Attack

People watch as firemen arrive to put out a vehicle that was set alight during a protest in East Belfast on Tuesday night. Politicians have condemned the “outright thuggery” which erupted in Belfast following protests in the wake of a knife attack in the city. Vehicles, including a bus, were set alight and families were burned out of their homes as demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday evening. A man arrested on suspicion of Monday’s knife attack has been charged with attempted murder and is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court later today. The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, is also charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill. Anti-immigration demonstrations took place across Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the attack. Masked males set bins alight and pushed them into the Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city on Tuesday evening, setting the vehicle alight. There were also multiple reports of roads being blocked and vehicles being set on fire in Belfast and other parts of the province. In a post on X which was shared by Keir Starmer, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said: “People have been rightly shocked by the brutal attack in north Belfast, but the police must be allowed to do their job so the law can take its course. “The scenes of disorder we have witnessed in some parts of Northern Ireland this evening are only damaging communities and putting innocent lives at risk. There is no justification at all for this type of thuggery.” Michelle O’Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland, said: “Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice. “This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery. “The attack in North Belfast was heinous and wrong. But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here. “Racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur. There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks.” Her deputy, Emma Little-Pengelly, said: “I know people are angry. I know people want to register their concerns. However, violence only destroys and damages our communities and areas. Thuggery and violence is always wrong.” Subscribe to Commons People , the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... David Lammy Says He Told JD Vance He Was 'Wrong' To Blame Immigration For Henry Nowak's Murder 'Condemn It': Farage Ignores MPs' Calls To Criticise Violence At Henry Nowak Murder Protest

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