UK officials criticize Elon Musk for urging protests after Belfast unrest
British politicians said Elon Musk's call for repeated, loud protests on X after a knife attack in Belfast was inappropriate, as the city experienced arson and displacement.
After a knife attack in Belfast that left a 44-year-old man in a coma and sparked arson attacks on homes, vehicles and a bus, Elon Musk posted on X urging his followers to protest "repeatedly and loudly" and shared a message from far-right activist Tommy Robinson listing protest sites, according to Politico.
Labour Party chair Anna Turley described Musk's intervention as "appalling" and said it was wrong to exploit the situation for a political agenda. She added that families were forced to flee their homes and called for condemnation of anyone seeking to incite further disruption.
Pastor Jack McKee told the BBC that members of his north-Belfast church were displaced, attributing the forced evictions to racial bias. Similar unrest was reported in Glasgow, where police said five people were arrested and attacks were motivated by skin colour.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously accused Musk of attempting to divide communities over the killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a separate incident that involved a mistaken racist assault allegation.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder in the Belfast knife attack. The victim’s family thanked bystanders who intervened, stating that the quick actions saved his life and condemning the overnight unrest. They emphasized that peaceful protest is the only acceptable response and highlighted the contributions of migrants to the UK’s healthcare and hospitality sectors.
Labour spokespersons urged Musk to call for calm rather than inflame grievances.
