UK police arrest man over 'barbaric' knife attack in Belfast

Police work at the scene of a stabbing on Kinnaird Avenue in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Paul Faith / AFP)

A Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a "brutal" knife attack in Belfast.

The victim was taken to hospital with wounds to his face, neck and back. His condition is described as serious.

It comes at a time of heightened tensions in Britain after the murder of student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed by police while dying after his killer falsely alleged a racist attack.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a "brutal" knife attack in Belfast.

Police declared a critical incident after a man in his 40s was attacked in the Kinnaird Avenue area of the city at around 10.30pm, local time, on Monday night.

The victim was taken to hospital with wounds to his face, neck and back. His condition was described as serious.

Footage of the incident circulating online shows a number of people confronting the alleged attacker while police arrive.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson, of Police Service Northern Ireland, said: “This is a deeply concerning assault and I have declared this a critical incident. We have commenced an investigation to establish a motive.“This brutal attack will have sent shockwaves through the community causing real concern. I want to reassure the local community that we are treating this attack with the utmost seriousness. Our investigation is continuing at pace."

Political leaders urged people in Belfast to remain calm after the brutal attack. (Paul Faith / AFP)

An initial police statement declared the suspect to be a Somalian, leading to the force later issuing a correction.

It comes at a time of heightened tensions in Britain after the murder of student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer, a Sikh man, falsely alleged a racist attack.

In a debate in British parliament in London, some lawmakers called for more transparency about the Belfast suspect's background, saying a lack of confirmed information risked fuelling speculation online and stoking tensions over immigration.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelled the attack as sickening. (AP: Gareth Fuller)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as "sickening" and said he had "no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets".

"My thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victim of this savage and barbaric attack," he said in a post on X.

The leaders of Northern Ireland's five main political parties