Conor McGregor calls for 'immediate ban' on immigration following Belfast attack

Conor McGregor has demanded an immediate halt to "immigration from the third world" and called for the deportation of "all illegal entrants" in the wake of a knife attack in Belfast allegedly carried out by a Sudanese migrant.

The UFC star took to X on Tuesday, the day following the incident, urging authorities to "close the borders."

He declared that "inviting and financing mentally deranged people from the 3rd world is a hard no."

In a further post, the Irish fighter insisted that migrants "cannot come here any longer."

McGregor has long been vocal on immigration matters, having previously warned that Ireland risked "potentially losing its Irishness" due to what he termed an "illegal immigration racket" devastating the nation.

The attack occurred on Monday evening at approximately 10.30pm on a residential street in north Belfast.

Disturbing footage captured the alleged assailant standing over a bloodied victim, brandishing a knife at his throat with his fist raised.

Witnesses reported hearing onlookers scream as the man appeared to make a sawing motion, with some claiming "he's trying to cut his head off."

Officers recovered a kitchen knife from the scene.

The victim, locally identified as Stephen Ogilvie, a man in his forties, reportedly resided in the same social housing block as the suspect and remained in a serious condition in hospital.

The accused, a 30-year-old asylum seeker with indefinite leave to remain, has been charged with attempted murder and was due to appear in court today.

He had travelled by bus from Dublin to Belfast three years ago under arrangements permitting passport-free movement, immediately claiming asylum upon arrival.

The Home Office subsequently granted him a five-year refugee visa within months of his arrival.

Violent disorder erupted across Belfast on Tuesday night as hundreds of masked individuals set fire to properties and vehicles in the aftermath of the arrest.

Shortly before 8pm, men clad in black pushed burning bins against a bus, igniting it and sending plumes of smoke skyward.

Residential properties, motor vehicles and a Middle Eastern supermarket were subsequently torched, with reports suggesting non-white residents may have been deliberately targeted.

Protesters allegedly focused their attention on Houses in Multiple Occupation, which some claim are being utilised to accommodate migrants at public expense.

Harrowing footage emerged showing infants being carried from neighbouring homes as flames consumed the buildings around them.

PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson cautioned that such disorder "damages communities, damages local businesses and brings young people into the criminal justice system when they shouldn't be."

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill denounced the "outright thuggery," describing "groups of masked men burning families out of their homes" as "nothing less than disgusting cowardice."

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly stressed that "violence does not advance any cause, it damages it."

Former First Minister Arlene Foster observed that "genuine fears in working class" communities regarding immigration had been "overshadowed" by the rioting.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the scenes as "shocking and completely unacceptable," vowing that "those responsible will feel the full force of the law."

Tesla chief Elon Musk urged people to protest "repeatedly and loudly," whilst hard-right activist Tommy Robinson shared posts encouraging demonstrations across the United Kingdom.