A man believed to be Somalian has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after what police are describing as a critical incident in north Belfast, in which a victim was left in a critical condition with serious injuries to his face, neck and back as bystanders risked their own lives to drag the attacker away.
Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland were called to Kinnaird Avenue at around 10.30pm on Monday. Footage circulating on social media shows a man stabbing a second man who is lying on the ground, repeatedly striking him in the head and neck area as bystanders shout at him to stop. One voice can be heard screaming “he’s trying to cut his head off” before several members of the public rush forward, striking and wrestling the attacker to the ground in the seconds before the first officers arrived.
The victim, a man in his 40s, was rushed to hospital and is described as being in a critical condition. A man in his 30s, believed to be Somalian, has been arrested. Police have declared the incident a critical incident and say their investigation is continuing at pace.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the attack as sickening and said he would have no tolerance for such scenes on British streets. “The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening. I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets. My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened,” he said.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson praised the bystanders who intervened while calling on the public not to share the footage. “This brutal attack will have sent shockwaves through the community causing real concern. 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. Their willingness to step forward to help another person shows incredible bravery and community spirit,” he said. He added that police were aware of footage circulating online and were “strongly urging” members of the public not to share or repost it, warning it could cause further trauma to the victim’s family and compromise the investigation.
The attack has generated widespread shock and condemnation across Northern Ireland. DUP councillor Jordan Doran said he was “left shocked and deeply concerned” by the footage and that residents had contacted him seeking reassurance about community safety. “What is beyond dispute is that violence of this nature has no place in North Belfast,” he said. Independent councillor Paul McCusker, who described the attack as “horrific,” praised the bravery of those who intervened and said: “I’ve never seen an attack like this happen on the streets of north Belfast.”
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said the incident would be raised in Parliament on Tuesday. “The scenes from North Belfast are truly horrific. My thoughts and prayers are very much with the victim of this attack and their family. Please don’t reshare the footage online. That is someone’s child being attacked.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage is asked to contact police quoting reference number 1654 08/06/26.
