British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly condemned the racist riots in Belfast.
June 10, 2026, 12:26 p.mJune 10, 2026, 12:26 p.m
“The scenes in Belfast last night were shocking and completely unacceptable,” he wrote in an X post. “It is obvious that people were targeted last night because of their race and I will not tolerate that,” he promised. “Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.”
The scenes in Belfast last night were shocking and completely unacceptable.
There is no justification for the violence and disorder that we saw threatening our communities, nor for those who encouraged it, online or elsewhere.
It is clear that people were targeted last night…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 10, 2026
The Northern Irish capital was rocked by racist riots on Tuesday evening after a knife attack. The background is that a Sudanese man is suspected of committing the crime. Rioters, some of whom were masked, marched through the streets and set several vehicles on fire, including a bus. Residential houses were also set on fire and residents had to be rescued from them. Several hundred people had previously gathered to demonstrate against migrants and immigration.
The background to the riots is a brutal video of a knife attack on Monday in which a man was seriously injured. According to police, the suspected perpetrator is a 30-year-old Sudanese man. He was charged with attempted murder, weapons possession and making threats to kill.
Starmer said peace and order must now be the top priority. “We have to let the police do their job.” There is no justification for violence and unrest. (hkl/sda/dpa)