The “extraordinary courage” of people who intervened during a stabbing attack in north Belfast has been hailed amid calls for their bravery to be recognised.
Video footage of Monday night’s incident shows people, including one with a hurling stick, stopping a man attacking the victim who was lying prone on the street.
North Belfast MP John Finucane said he believed they may have saved the life of the victim, a man aged in his 40s, during the incident in the Kinnaird Avenue area.
Mr Finucane said he wanted to thank those people who intervened.
“They showed extraordinary courage and bravery to step in, to put themselves in danger to save, I think possibly, a man’s life because of their selfless acts, and I want, on behalf of everybody I’m sure, to thank them for that,” he told the Press Association at the scene on Tuesday morning.
Mr Finucane said his thoughts first and foremost are with the victim, and his family and friends, but also with residents who witnessed what happened, police who came upon a horrific scene, and first responders from the Ambulance Service.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said members of the public who intervened “showed the very best of humanity”.
Speaking in the House of Commons in response to an urgent oral question tabled by DUP leader Gavin Robinson, Mr Benn said the “thoughts of the whole House will be with” the victim and his loved ones.
He also told the Commons: “Amidst the horror of what happened, we also saw something extraordinary.
“When confronted with scenes of terrifying violence, members of the public did not walk on by.
“Instead, a number of them stepped forward and, at immense risk to their own safety, they intervened to pull the assailant away and protect the victim until the police arrived.
“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.”
Labour MP Chris Bloore called for those who came to the victim’s aid to be recognised and “given the honour and reward they deserve for representing the best of humanity”.
Mr Benn said he hoped that in due time the bravery would be recognised.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson also hailed those people who intervened to halt the attack.
“It’s important to acknowledge at the very outset the bravery of those members of the public who ran towards danger to intervene and help the injured man,” he said.
