Tory frontbencher hails 'inspiring bravery' in Belfast after 'appalling' knife attack: 'We need major reforms'
Alex Burghart has heaped praise on the Belfast community for their "inspiring bravery" following an "appalling" stabbing in the Northern Irish capital.
Speaking to GB News, the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland thanked those who helped a man in his 40s after he was attacked by a Sudanese man with a knife.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland have confirmed the victim remains in a "serious condition" in hospital.
Also praising the efforts of the community in saving the victim, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn thanked them for showing the "very best of humanity".
Responding to the incident, Mr Burghart told GB News it is both "appalling" and "very upsetting".
He said: "Obviously my thoughts with the victim and his family, but also I think with everyone in that area of North Belfast.
"Just some really inspiring stories of bravery, of ordinary people rushing out to help and and to defend the man who was being attacked."
Mr Burghart declared the public deserves to know the "basic facts" of what happened from the police.
He said: "We've seen this sort of thing before where we absolutely need the public to be told the basic facts of the case. The man has been apprehended, he is in police custody thanks to the very brave and swift work at the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
"It's very impressive that they managed to get hold of him so quickly, but he is in custody, and we deserve to be told a bit about him. People in Belfast deserve to be told a bit about him as quickly as possible."
Questioned by host Emily Carver on whether he is concerned for any possible protests that could be sparked by this case, the Tory MP said he hopes the public will "avoid" violence.
He told GB News: "I very much hope that we don't see any violence off the back of this, and obviously people always have a right to protest and express their views, but that's very different to violence, and I very much hope that will be avoided.
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"There are issues in Northern Ireland with levels of immigration, a slightly different history of immigration to what we have in England, but there is no doubt that there are some tensions emerging.
"And it's very important that the people of Northern Ireland should feel that they are in control of who comes and lives in their part of the country."
Mr Burghart argued the immigration system needs "major reform", something he believes the Labour Government "wouldn't be a part of".
He said: "It's going to require, as Kemi Badenoch set out, some major reforms, and that I just don't see this Government being part of it at all.
"We do have a problem with mass immigration in the United Kingdom as a whole, and we do have a problem that people coming from certain communities are disproportionately more likely to commit serious and violent crime, and we have to be honest about that. I think that a mature and sensible Government can take steps to make sure that that doesn't happen."
In a statement, a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: "We understand there are strong community concerns after last night’s shocking attempted murder in north Belfast. We are aware of inaccurate online posts regarding the victim's condition. We can confirm that the injured man remains in a serious condition in hospital.
"As our investigation has progressed, we can also confirm that the man in custody is Sudanese and not Somalian, as initially believed.
"This is a fast-time investigation and we will continue to provide further updates to the public in due course."
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