Violent anti-immigrant protests erupted in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday evening, with demonstrators setting buildings and vehicles ablaze and blocking roads. The unrest followed a knife attack allegedly carried out by a Sudanese refugee.

The suspect, a 30-year-old refugee, is scheduled to appear in a Belfast court on Wednesday facing charges of attempted murder, possession of a bladed article, and threats to kill.

Masked men set fire to houses and forced families to flee their homes, according to Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who condemned the acts as "disgusting cowardice." The BBC reported hearing shouts of "foreigners out" during the riots.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the violence "shocking and unacceptable," vowing that those responsible would face the full force of the law. Police had previously urged the public not to resort to violence after far-right figures called for anti-immigration protests.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk amplified calls for nationwide anti-migration demonstrations by reposting a message from Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. The suspect arrived in the UK in 2023 with a residence permit valid until 2028, and was not known to police, according to Northern Ireland police chief Jon Boutcher.

The stabbing, which left a man in his 40s with serious neck and head wounds, has fueled tensions already inflamed by previous incidents in Southampton. Immigration remains a contentious issue in the UK, boosting far-right parties like Reform UK.

Source: www.dw.com