Somalian arrested after ‘attempted beheading’ in Belfast - Footage shows man being pinned to ground and stabbed several times in face and neck
A Somalian man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a knife attack in Belfast.
The suspect is in custody after a man in his 40s was taken to hospital with “significant injuries” to his face, neck and back.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show an individual pinning the man to the ground before stabbing him in the head several times.
Residents on Kinnaird Avenue intervened in the attack, with one onlooker appearing to hit the knifeman repeatedly with a wooden hurling stick in a video reportedly from the scene.
Police were called to the street in northern Belfast at around 10.30pm on Monday night, and reportedly recovered a knife from the scene. They are yet to comment on the social media footage.
Sir Keir Starmer called the attack “sickening”, adding: “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.”
Paul McCusker, an independent councillor, told BBC Northern Ireland that some residents had witnessed the “horrific and terrifying” incident and had attempted to stop it.
“One lady said she had to go to hospital herself because of the stress of witnessing such a brutal attack,” he said. “I’ve never seen an attack like this happen on the streets of north Belfast.”
Jon Burrows, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said the “barbaric attack” had “caused shock across not only Northern Ireland but the entire United Kingdom”.
Carl Whyte, the SDLP North Belfast councillor, urged people not to view or share the online footage “for the sake of the victim and his family”.
He said: “This was an appalling act of extreme violence. The victim of this attack has endured a terrifying ordeal and all our thoughts are with him and his family and we pray for his full recovery.
Mr Whyte told The Belfast Telegraph: “I would also ask people not to engage with far-right elements who will use this incident in an attempt to sow division. It’s important that people remain calm and allow justice to take its course.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage has been urged to contact police.
CORRECTION; Sudanese man arrested after ‘attempted beheading’ in Belfast
SOURCE: The Telegraph