Anti-immigration protests descended into violence in Northern Ireland after right-wing activists called for demonstrations in response to a knife attack that was captured in a disturbing video.

Crowds, including masked men, set vehicles and houses on fire and blocked roads in Belfast and surrounding areas on Tuesday evening, just hours after Elon Musk, Tommy Robinson, and other agitators urged people to take to the streets.

Protesters hijacked and burned a Glider bus on Newtownards Road in east Belfast, while cars were also set ablaze near Shankill Road and in Newtownabbey. Thick smoke rose from burning vehicles as sirens echoed through the area and a police helicopter circled overhead.

The unrest erupted only hours after police charged a 30-year-old asylum seeker from Sudan with attempted murder in connection with an attack that took place in north Belfast on Monday evening. In that incident, a man suffered life-threatening injuries, triggering widespread shock and public condemnation.

The suspect is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson appealed for calm:

“Tonight, there have been sporadic outbreaks of disorder at several locations across Northern Ireland, including incidents in which multiple vehicles were set on fire. We urge everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could endanger their own safety or that of others.”

Henderson also called on “all influential voices” within local communities to encourage peaceful protest and discourage violence and disorder, according to The Guardian.

Politicians across Northern Ireland and the wider United Kingdom likewise appealed for restraint.

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill condemned the violence and warned against “dangerous attempts to exploit” the attack. In a social media post, she wrote:

“Groups of masked men forcing families from their homes by setting houses on fire represent nothing less than disgusting cowardice. This has nothing to do with community. This is pure thuggery.”

Earlier, O’Neill urged the public not to be drawn in by social media calls encouraging unrest.

“Those who are stirring tensions online and benefiting from rising hostility do not represent us. We are good people, and I do not want anyone living in fear.”

John Finucane described the scenes as “shameful,” adding:

“There is no place for this on our streets. Family homes and businesses have been attacked, cars and buses burned, and parts of our community are in flames. No one has the right to spread fear, terrorize innocent families, or bring lawlessness to our streets.”

Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long said the demonstrators were “determined to destroy the very communities they claim to be protecting.”

Meanwhile, groups of men, some wearing balaclavas or other face coverings, threw fireworks and set bins, buses, and homes on fire. In one incident near Shankill Road in Belfast, a group broke into a house believed to be occupied by an ethnic minority family, claiming they were “liberating” it.

Later in the evening, two mobile phone stores on Shankill Road were looted, while an African-owned shop was set on fire. Smoke spread along the street as fire crews battled the blaze while onlookers watched.

Smaller protests also took place in Antrim, Bangor, and Ballymena, while two cars were burned in Newtownabbey.

In London, around 60 demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, accusing police of being “traitors” and attempting to provoke officers.

Some chanted anti-immigration slogans and referenced the killing of Henry Novak as well as the Belfast knife attack. Most of those present, however, protested peacefully.

Politicians and community leaders accused the “far right” of attempting to incite unrest in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom.

Tommy Robinson, the right-wing activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, shared footage of the Belfast attack and called for protests in central London and elsewhere in the country.

The attack occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday outside a residential building in north Belfast. Video footage circulated on social media showed a man sitting on another man on the ground and repeatedly striking him in the head and neck. A kitchen knife was recovered at the scene. Police said the victim, a man in his forties, suffered serious injuries to his eyes, face, and back.

The footage also showed bystanders attempting to stop the assault. One man, later identified as Maitiu Mag Tihearnan, repeatedly struck the attacker with a stick.

In addition to attempted murder, the suspect has been charged with possession of a bladed weapon in a public place and making threats to kill.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said he believes the suspect was granted permission to remain in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2023. According to Boutcher, the suspect traveled from Sudan to Paris and then flew to Dublin.

He then traveled by bus from Dublin to Belfast on February 10, 2023, where he applied for asylum. Boutcher said:

“There is no trace of this suspect in our national security databases, and he was not known to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I have been in direct contact with the head of UK counterterrorism policing. At this stage, we have no information indicating that the attack was terrorism-related.”

He also urged the public not to fall for provocations:

“People are being encouraged by individuals without faces or identities who know nothing about this remarkable and vibrant place. Do not allow yourselves to be deceived or manipulated by people on the internet.”

Immigrant communities expressed fears that they could become targets of attacks. Sudanese shop owners in the Sandy Row area closed their businesses at around 4 p.m. and said they planned to remain indoors throughout the night.

The Belfast Islamic Centre canceled its evening prayers. Project manager Amir Ibrahim said:

“We are telling our worshippers to return home, stay indoors, look after their children, avoid spreading rumors, and follow the instructions of the authorities.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the attack as “disturbing and appalling.”

“I have absolutely no tolerance for these horrific scenes of violence on our streets. My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the emergency services and the members of the public who intervened.”

Right-wing commentators from England and the United States, including Rupert Lowe and Elon Musk, also commented on the attack online. Musk shared a list of potential protest locations and wrote:

“Only persistent and loud protests can bring about any change!”

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s spokesperson for home affairs, stated:

“The horror of what you saw in Belfast is a direct consequence of the disastrous immigration policies of both the Conservatives and Labour. Reform UK has already announced a complete ban on issuing visas to individuals from Sudan. Enough is enough.”

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