Derry councillor condemns Belfast knife attack
‘What happened in North Belfast was horrific’ - Cllr Shaun Harkin
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) has condemned what the PSNI described as the “brutal” the knife attack in North Belfast.
The attack took place at 10.30pm on Monday (June 8, 2026).
"What happened in North Belfast was horrific. We condemn it unequivocally,” said Cllr Harkin.
“Our thoughts are with the victim of the attack and we hope they can make a full recovery,” he added.
“We commend the brave people who intervened to stop this horrific act. The people of North Belfast and all our communities do not need more violence.
“Opportunists with nothing positive to offer are attempting to use this tragedy to whip up racism and threaten an escalation of violence.
“Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe, Tommy Robinson and other British far-right agitators, backed by the billionaire parasite Elon Musk, are cynically sowing hatred and fear to divide working class communities. We shouldn’t let them.
“Their goal is to blame, dehumanise scapegoat entire communities for the actions of an individual to further their anti-working class agenda of racism, extreme inequality, warmongering and misogyny. They want us to punch down,” said Cllr Harkin.
“Working-class people from all communities, backgrounds and faiths are strongest when we stand together,” he added.
“We need to stand together now against toxic hate and violent scapegoating."