POLITICIANS have been urged to “temper the inflammatory remarks” after an alleged murder bid by a foreign national in Belfast.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn fielded questions about the knife attack which left a man in his 40s in serious condition with significant injuries to his face, neck and back.
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Benn said: “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.”
A number of MPs asked Benn about the immigration status of the suspect, a Sudanese national who the Commons heard possessed a five-year visa to live in the UK, but the minister said he was unable to answer at the time.
After paying tribute to the victim and praising the bystanders who fought off and restrained the alleged attacker, Shockat Adam said that MPs should remember that “crime and heroes come in all different hues and colours” and appealed for calm.
He said: “It’s a responsibility for members in this House to temper the inflammatory remarks so that we do not see actions like we did last week in Southampton, where innocent police officers are having to go into hiding?”
Benn replied: “We all have a responsibility, by our actions and our words, not to inflame and we all have a responsibility – as I indicated in answering the original question – to plea for clam in these circumstances. That is the right thing to do on behalf of all the people of Northern Ireland.”
MPs heard there were already protests planned, sparking fears of racist violence.
Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford, said: “Tensions are inflamed and at this moment I am aware of planned protests throughout my constituency, Strangford.
“I am also aware that many of those who intend to attend do so not because they are frightened for their family alone, but instead feel their fears are ignored when they make a good and grand statement.”
Benn said UK citizens had a right to protest peacefully but added: “We have seen in the past that there are those, provoked by others, who have sought to use that opportunity to then promote violence and disorder.”
In response to independent MP Ayoub Khan urging that the “heinous actions of one person” should not be used to “taint an entire community”, Benn said protests risked the threat of racist violence and disorder in Northern Ireland.
The minister said: “When I think back to those who were attacked in the wake of the terrible events in Southport and then in Ballymena, we know that in Northern Ireland certain of individuals were attacked, had nothing to do with any of this, simply because of the colour of their skin.
“And that is not what this country is about. Identify an attacker, due process in due course after investigation: do not cast aspersions on a whole community. Many people from all backgrounds contribute so much to our national life.”
Elsewhere, MPs used the minister’s statement to call for stricter immigration laws and called for the suspect to be deported.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said: “Having abused the privilege of our nation, the perpetrator living in the UK under a five-year visa needs to be convicted and deported on the first flight out on a one-way ticket.”
In response to Reform UK’s Lee Anderson demanding to know whether the suspect was an “illegal migrant-stroke-asylum seeker”, Benn said: “Until I am in a position to have that confirmed, I cannot confirm it to the House.
“As soon as I can, I will. But as I have already explained, it is the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) that is leading on answering the very legitimate question that he has asked.”
