Belfast Erupts in Riots After Officials Rule Near-Fatal Street Attack by Muslim Suspect Was Not Terrorism

Photo: X screenshot | Jihad Watch

Police in Northern Ireland on Tuesday urged the public to remain calm after a Sudanese national was arrested over a stabbing in Belfast that was captured in disturbing footage and later sparked calls for anti-immigration protests from prominent right-wing figures in the U.K.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced it would step up patrols across the region after videos of Monday night's attack circulated widely online, triggering outrage, condemnation, and appeals for demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday evening.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions across Britain following violent clashes last week in Southampton, southern England, linked to public anger over the police response to the fatal stabbing of a young white student by a British Sikh man.

Footage from Belfast appears to show a man on top of another man lying on the street, repeatedly attacking him with a knife around the head and neck. Some right-wing commentators described the assault as an attempted beheading.

The video also shows several bystanders intervening to restrain the attacker before police officers arrived at the scene.

The PSNI said the suspect, a Sudanese man in his 30s who is legally residing in the United Kingdom, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police had initially stated that he was believed to be Somali.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said investigators currently had "no information to suggest that this was a terrorist-related incident," noting that the inquiry remains at an early stage.

According to Henderson, the victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to hospital with severe injuries, including damage to his eyes and serious slash wounds to his face and back.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)