Belfast stabbing latest: Starmer calls for calm as bystanders who tackled alleged knife attacker hailed ‘heroes’

Belfast stabbing latest: Starmer calls for calm as bystanders who tackled alleged knife attacker hailed ‘heroes’ Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn hails passers-by who stepped in, saying they ‘showed the very best of humanity’ - Bookmark A man from Sudan has been arrested over a knife attack in Belfast that prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described as “horrific” and “abhorrent”. The man aged in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the “brutal” assault on Monday night which left the alleged victim with significant injuries to his face, neck and back, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said. The PSNI has launched a “critical incident” in response to the attack, which was captured on video and appears to show a man stabbing at the victim’s head and neck while he was on the ground. The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the man attacking the victim in the residential area close to the busy Antrim Road in north Belfast. Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn thanked the bystanders who intervened by pulling the assailant away. He told MPs: “To those individuals, I would like to say this – you showed the very best of humanity and you have the profound gratitude of this entire House.” Suspect 'in UK under five-year visa' Police initially said they believed the suspect in custody was from Somalia but later clarified that he is Sudanese. Police and the UK government have yet to confirm the arrested man’s immigration status. But DUP leader and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson told the Commons that the suspect was in the UK under a five-year visa.