Protests in Belfast, Northern Ireland, turned violent on Tuesday as demonstrators set vehicles on fire after a Sudanese refugee was caught on video allegedly attempting to behead a local man.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Protests in Belfast, Northern Ireland, escalated into violence on Tuesday as demonstrators set a bus on fire and blocked roads following an attempted beheading. The unrest was part of an anti-immigration demonstration sparked by the attack, which involved a Sudanese refugee who has now been charged with attempted murder. 📰 DETAIL: The violence occurred on the Newtownards Road, where masked individuals set commercial dumpsters alight and pushed them into a bus. The unrest came after social media posts called for anti-immigration demonstrations across Northern Ireland in response to Monday night’s attack near the Antrim Road, where the victim suffered severe injuries to his eyes, face, neck, and back. Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) declared a critical incident following the attack, which was captured on video and appeared to show the victim being repeatedly stabbed while on the ground and the suspect sawing at the victim’s neck. Members of the public intervened to stop the assault. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Let the criminal justice process take its course, and let’s just remember that all of our communities in Northern Ireland almost entirely contribute positively to this place, and don’t be fooled or duped into a trap by people online inciting awful behavior.” – PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher 🎯 IMPACT: The protests are ongoing as of the time of publication, with police increasing their presence to maintain order. |
🚨 BREAKING: A bus has been set on fire in Belfast amid protests over the attempted beheading of a man pic.twitter.com/FX8maCMalK
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) June 9, 2026
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