Man arrested over Belfast stabbing attack charged with attempted murder

By Press Association reporters

A man arrested on suspicion of the Belfast knife attack has been charged with attempted murder, police have said.

The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, is also charged with possession of an article with blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill.

He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

The victim of the attack, a man aged in his 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds.

There has been widespread condemnation of Monday night’s knife assault.

Police commanders and political leaders have also appealed for calm amid concern anti-immigration protests planned in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening could turn violent.

Detectives have said there is no indication the attack was terror-related.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched a “critical incident” in response to the incident which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was lying on the ground.

The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the Kinnaird Avenue residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast.

A kitchen knife was recovered from the scene.