A local man has been identified as one of the “heroic” bystanders who intervened to put an end to last night’s “brutal” attack in North Belfast shortly before police arrived.
Maitiu Mág Tighearnán has identified himself as the person who was filmed with a hurl confronting the attacker in the incident which has been described as “barbaric.”
Mr Mág Tighearnán was among a number of bystanders who attempted to intervene and wrestle the attacker to the ground before police arrived on the scene after 10:30pm.
“You put your own life in danger to save a life Well done for your actions. I’m sure this guy is undoubtedly traumatised having to witness this sickening [attack],” said one Facebook user.
“The country is behind you,” said another. “We need more people like you on our streets,” said another underneath a thread which has almost 600 comments.
One member of the public has set up a Go Fund Me page for the “Belfast attack hero” in the last few hours.
According to witnesses, the shocking attack “looked like an attempt to cut [the victim’s] head off.”
The group of men were filmed rushing to the aid of the man who had been pinned to the ground during the “brutal” knife attack. The man can be seen pictured with a bloodied head as the suspect used his knees to pin him to the ground – with reports on social media suggesting the victim had been slashed and stabbed in the head.
Video footage shows three men running towards the attacker and working together to tear him away from the victim – with Mr Mag Toghearan using a hurl to repeatedly hit the attacker.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday that the force wished to “acknowledge the members of the public who strived to save the man from further attack”
“Their willingness to step forward to help another person shows incredible bravery and community spirit.”
The attack has been described as an attempted “beheading,” with a video of the bloody attack going viral on social media provoking shock from members of the public and politicians alike.
The violence unfolded outside a block of flats on Kinnaird Avenue in North Belfast at around 10:30pm on Monday.
In the footage, the Sudanese suspect is filmed beside the bloodied victim holding a knife to his throat with his fist in the air.
Frantic bystanders can be heard screaming as he begins to make a sawing motion, with witnesses shouting: “He’s trying to cut his head off.”
A man in his 40s is in a “critical” condition in hospital with serious injuries to his face, neck and back.
A Sudanese man, first identified by police as Somalian, aged in his 30s, remains in custody having been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson has described the attack as “medieval” and told the House of Commons this afternoon that the suspect had been in the UK on a five-year visa. However, the man’s identity and immigration status have not yet been confirmed by authorities.
It followed Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s call for more information on the suspect to be released immediately, with Mr Farage saying this morning that the public in Northern Ireland are “entitled to the truth” about the identity and status of the attacker.
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Alex Burghart said in a statement: “Last night there was an appalling and brutal attack in north Belfast – which was met by extraordinary bravery by some local people.”
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening. “I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets. “My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.”