Conor McGregor calls for immediate ban on 'immigration from the third world' and removal of 'all illegal entrants' after Belfast 'asylum seeker knife attack'

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 10:49, 10 June 2026 | Updated: 10:56, 10 June 2026 Conor McGregor has publicly called for an immediate ban on 'immigration from the third world' and the removal of 'all illegal entrants' after a stabbing linked to a Sudanese migrant in Belfast. Writing on X the day after the attack, the UFC fighter called to 'close the borders,' adding that 'inviting and financing mentally deranged people from the 3rd world is a hard no.' In a separate post, he demanded a ban on immigration, adding that migrants 'cannot come here any longer.' His comments came in response to a horrific stabbing attack on Monday night, when a Sudanese migrant is alleged to have inflicted knife wounds to a man's face, neck and back in a residential street. Described by police as a 30-year-old asylum seeker who had been granted indefinite leave to remain, the suspect was last night charged with attempted murder and will appear in court today.  Harrowing footage captured at around 10.30pm on Monday evening appeared to show the alleged attacker violently stabbing a man in the street. The video shows a man standing astride a bloodied victim, holding a knife to his throat and his fist in the air. As onlookers screamed, he then started making a sawing motion as witnesses said: 'He's trying to cut his head off.' Police said a kitchen knife was recovered from the scene. McGregor has previously spoken out about his views on immigration Conor McGregor has publicly called for an immediate ban on 'immigration from the third world' Writing on X the day after the attack, the UFC fighter called to 'close the borders,' The Sudanese suspect legally crossed from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland three years ago under a long-standing arrangement which means no passport checks are conducted. He took a bus from Dublin to Belfast and immediately claimed asylum, the authorities revealed under pressure for answers yesterday.  A few months later, the Home Office granted him a five-year visa as a refugee. The victim was named locally as Stephen Ogilvie, in his 40s, who last night remained in a serious condition in hospital.  It is understood he lived in the same block of social housing as the suspect. Violent protests broke out in Belfast last night as hundreds of masked protesters torched homes and vehicles following the arrest of the Sudanese migrant. Houses, cars, a bus and a supermarket were set alight as parts of the city descended into chaos, with some suggestions that non-white residents were deliberately targeted by some of the fires. Protesters were said to be targeting HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), where multiple people live in a shared property - and which some claim are being used to house migrants at the taxpayers' expense. Just before 8pm, masked men dressed in black pushed burning bins up against a bus, setting it ablaze and sending thick smoke into the sky.  Houses and cars were also later set alight alongside a Middle Eastern supermarket. Footage of the chaos shows infants being carried out of neighbouring houses as flames engulf the properties. PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson warned that 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, condemned the 'outright thuggery', saying that 'groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice'.  O'Neill added: 'The attack in north Belfast was heinous and wrong. But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that, to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here.' She added that racism, intimidation and violence were wrong wherever it occurred. 'There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight. No one wants to see this on our streets and I again appeal for calm,' she said. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly reiterated that 'violence does not advance any cause, it damages it', adding: 'Destroying things within your own community benefits no one.' Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's former first minister Arlene Foster said the 'genuine fears in working class' communities about immigration risks had been 'overshadowed' by the riots. Lendrick Street in east Belfast was engulfed in flames, with multiple cars and at least one house ablaze A Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast was one of the first targets to be set alight Hundreds of masked men defied government ministers' calls for calm to take to the streets Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned last night's scenes, saying: '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 because of their background and I will not tolerate it. Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.' Anti-immigrant protests also took place in several other cities around the UK on Tuesday night, including London, Glasgow, and Southampton. McGregor has previously spoken out about his views on immigration, last year claiming that Ireland was close to 'potentially losing its Irishness' due to an 'illegal immigration racket is ravaging our country'. During a meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump last March, the mixed martial arts fighter said he was at the White House 'to raise the issues the people of Ireland face' as 'what is going on in Ireland is a travesty'. The US is home to millions of descendants of Irish immigrants who fled poverty for the 'American dream' and a better life across the pond, with McGregor addressing some of his remarks to them. 'What is going on in Ireland is a travesty. Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability. Our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people,' he said. 'The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country. 'There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop, that have become a minority in one swoop, so issues need to be addressed and the 40 million Irish Americans, as I said, need to hear this because if not there will be no place to come home and visit.' Other prominent figures voiced their anger after the Belfast stabbing, with Tesla mogul Elon Musk encouraging people to protest.  'Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change,' he wrote on X. Hard-right activist Tommy Robinson also took to social media to re-share posts encouraging people to protest. Robinson shared graphics that included the instruction: ‘All businesses to close at 5.30pm tonight. No exceptions.’  ‘The whole of the United Kingdom is hitting the streets tonight at 7pm following yet another invader attack on our people,’ he captioned the pictures.  One statement he reposted urged protesters to leave phones at home. ‘Technology and recording devices… don’t help anyone, this is saving our country not for the powers to use it against patriots and shaft us,’ the account claimed. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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