A forensic investigation is underway in north Belfast after a migrant male attempted to behead a White male victim, leaving the injured man in critical condition before bystanders beat the assailant. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), emergency services were dispatched to the Kinnaird Avenue area at approximately 10:30 p.m., where the victim was located and subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment.
A video of the incident, which shows a male brutally stabbing his victim and trying to slice off his head, has gone viral on social media. Some social media reports indicate the man is from Africa. The suspect appears to yell something in Arabic before trying to slice the victim’s head off. The video has been censored on X.
Authorities confirmed that a second man was apprehended at the scene in connection with the knife attack and remains in police custody. Forensic officers and police personnel maintained a visible presence at the cordoned-off location into Tuesday morning.
Notably, the attack came to an end only after bystanders intervened and beat the attacker.
Councillor Paul McCusker described the scenes as “horrific” and said “the bravery of those residents was commendable.”
“I have spoken to the police and the male who carried out the attack has been arrested and the victim is critical in hospital. I really hope he survives this attack and his family are getting support,” he added.
Detectives are actively appealing to the public, urging anyone who may have witnessed the assault, or who possesses relevant closed-circuit television (CCTV) or vehicle dashcam footage, to come forward immediately.
The aftermath of the violent encounter has sparked widespread anxiety throughout the local community, but European authorities appear to have moved to censor the video on social media platforms.
Local DUP councillor Jordan Doran publicly said he was “left shocked and deeply concerned” by footage circulating online following the stabbing.
“Many residents have contacted me expressing concerns about community safety and seeking reassurance following this incident,” he said. “Those concerns are entirely understandable. People deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities, regardless of where they live.”
