UMVA has learned that a horrific stabbing attack in north Belfast has left a man in his 40s fighting for his life in the hospital with severe injuries to his face, neck, and back.
The brutal assault was captured on video, which shows a knifeman pinning the victim to the ground before stabbing him multiple times. The footage also reveals residents intervening, with one man using a hurling stick to try and stop the attacker.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack, stating that it was "sickening" and that he has "absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets." He expressed his thoughts are with the victim and praised the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has declared the incident a critical incident and is leading an investigation to establish a motive. The police are treating the attack with the utmost seriousness, and the local community is seeking reassurance.
The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue remained cordoned off on Tuesday morning, with police markers visible on the ground where the attack took place. Local politicians, including DUP leader Gavin Robinson and North Belfast MP John Finucane, have expressed shock and concern over the attack.
Robinson described the attack as "deeply concerning" and "medieval, barbaric and systematic mutilation of an individual in Belfast." Finucane urged anyone with information to come forward and assist the investigation, while local DUP councillor Jordan Doran vowed to engage with the PSNI to ensure residents receive the information and reassurance they deserve.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with the stabbing, and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward. The community is seeking reassurance that such violence has no place in North Belfast.
