PSNI Chief Warns Against Social Media Influence Amid Unrest
At a press conference, PSNI Chief Constable Simon Boutcher urged the public not to be influenced by individuals unfamiliar with Northern Ireland through social media following a knife attack. He stated:
"There will be an increased police presence across Northern Ireland this evening and in the coming days to provide help, support, and reassurance for all our communities, and to keep everybody safe.
There is considerable posting on social media. I appeal for everyone to be mindful of what they view and share online. Sharing footage risks causing further trauma to the injured man’s family and loved ones, and may impact on this investigation.
We are aware, of course, of protest activity being discussed across Northern Ireland this evening, and we continue to monitor this very carefully.
And I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling enraged with emotions from fear to anger, but please, please let the PSNI, let the police do their job unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder.
Do not let people who know nothing about Northern Ireland impact on the behaviours of our people in Northern Ireland from afar through social media.
Remember the actions of those members of the public, they truly define our society in Northern Ireland, they saved a man’s life last night.
Do not let the actions of that man impact on any further harm to anybody else in Northern Ireland."
Boutcher emphasised that plans for protests were being closely monitored by the police.
Education Minister Paul Givan Calls for Peaceful Protests
Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan attended a protest in Lisburn and warned that violence at anti-immigration demonstrations would detract from the protesters’ message. He said:
"There is a genuine shock about what happened last night. I think it has sent shockwaves across the community.
What we have witnessed here in Lisburn has been a peaceful protest because people have felt that their voices aren’t being listened to, particularly when it comes to uncontrolled immigration within the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland.
It is important that people do conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to make sure that the key issues here around immigration can be heard and we are not distracted by any form of violence.
That will only distract. People should express their views in a peaceful manner."
Violence Erupts in Belfast During Protests
Shortly after the protest, a car was set on fire on a street adorned with loyalist flags and walls painted with graffiti stating "local homes for local people." A lone police car was stationed at the far end of the street as officers observed a plume of black smoke rising into the sky.
By 8pm, approximately three hundred people, mostly dressed in dark clothing, had gathered on the Shankhill Road. A woman led the crowd in reciting the Lord’s Prayer for the victim of the crime through a megaphone, with the crowd joining in and concluding with clapping and cheering.
The crowd then marched through the streets of west Belfast. Subsequently, windows were smashed, and groups of men wearing balaclavas rushed into a house, attacking windows with bricks amid thick smoke from fireworks.
Protesters Set Fire to Glider Bus on Newtownards Road
Protesters set fire to a Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast as disorder escalated during an anti-immigration demonstration organised in response to Monday night’s stabbing attack in the city.
The Sudanese barber shop owner was at his cash register and smiling when two men walking down the street paused at his open doorway and emitted a sudden, shrieking howl. The men, white, in their 20s, wearing grey tracksuits, resumed their walk without speaking after the outburst.
The barber shop staff, all from sub-Saharan Africa, remained silent while the owner continued smiling. When asked if he felt safe in Belfast, he responded, "Safe? You can never be safe. I can at least close early."
On Tuesday afternoon, concerns grew that dozens of anti-immigrant protests could erupt across Belfast after a Sudanese asylum seeker was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The 30-year-old man was later charged with attempted murder and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
Footage of the attack, which occurred on Monday night, was widely shared on social media and became a rallying point for far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk.
By 4pm on Tuesday, all foreign-owned stores on Sandy Row in central Belfast had closed their steel shutters, and staff hurried home to remain indoors for the night, a scene replicated in other parts of Belfast.
Crowds Gather Across Belfast Amid Calls for Protests
Crowds began gathering at various locations in Belfast following the knife attack in the northern part of the city. Several people assembled on the Newtownards Road in the east, while another crowd gathered near the Crumlin Road roundabout.
Social media calls for protests across Belfast following Monday night’s attack have been discouraged by police chiefs and politicians, including the First Secretary.
Man Charged with Attempted Murder
The man arrested on suspicion of the knife attack has been charged with attempted murder, police confirmed. The 30-year-old Sudanese man also faces charges of possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Commercial Payments Bill Advances in House of Lords
A Bill aimed at clamping down on late payments by companies passed its first hurdle in the House of Lords. The Commercial Payments Bill was passed unopposed at second reading on Tuesday evening.
The Bill will impose a maximum payment term of 30 days for public authorities and 60 days for non-public authorities in commercial contracts. It will also strengthen the existing legal right to interest on late payment of commercial debts.
Additionally, the small business commissioner will be empowered to investigate larger firms suspected of repeatedly paying late and breaching legislation.
Ministers Appeal for Calm Amid Rising Tensions
More ministers have issued appeals for calm ahead of potential unrest. Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson described further violence as the "worst possible response" to the Belfast knife attack. Speaking on LBC Radio, she said:
"What we’re urging now is a period of calm.
I appreciate that people are horrified by what they have seen, but the worst possible response to that kind of violence would be further violence or disorder."
Concerns have also been raised about potential targets amid the tensions. First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned those seeking to inflame tensions, particularly via social media, stating they "do not represent us." She urged the public to distinguish the knife attack from other incidents involving minority ethnic communities, saying:
"We need to say no racism, no to hatred, no to sectarianism that is out there in our society."
