UK officials urge calm after stabbing suspect's asylum status fuels protests

British officials asked the public to remain calm after a Sudanese man, detained on suspicion of attempted murder in a stabbing on a Belfast street, became the focus of anti-immigration protests. The victim, a man in his 40s, was hospitalized with serious injuries to his eyes, face and back, police said. The 30-year-old suspect was charged with attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place and making threats to kill; a kitchen knife was recovered at the scene.

Assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said investigators were still determining motive and found no evidence linking the attack to terrorism.

"This brutal attack will have sent shock waves through the community, causing real concern," he said.

Northern Ireland leaders and chief constable Jon Boutcher warned against inciting hatred or targeting specific communities. Protesters in black hoodies set fire to a bus in east Belfast and ignited cars and trash bins in other parts of the city. Demonstrations also occurred in Southampton, where activists gathered outside a hotel that houses asylum seekers, displaying anti-migration slogans.

Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson called for tighter immigration controls, while Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he could not confirm the suspect's entry status. Boutcher noted the suspect had arrived in the UK on a five-year visa in September 2023 and had previously traveled through Paris and Dublin before seeking asylum in Belfast.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the stabbing as "sickening" and urged calm, emphasizing the need for police to conduct their investigation without interference. Officials also asked the public not to circulate graphic images or unverified information about the incident.