‘You can never be safe’: Belfast’s Sudanese community hunkers down after grisly attack

The Sudanese community in Belfast is experiencing heightened fear following an incident where two men allegedly shouted abuse at a Sudanese barber shop owner on June 7, 2026. This event has amplified concerns about anti-immigration sentiment, particularly after an asylum seeker was charged with attempted murder in Northern Ireland. The two perpetrators, described as white males in their 20s wearing grey tracksuits, paused at the open doorway of the barber shop and emitted a "shrieking howl" before continuing their walk without speaking. The incident, though brief, has contributed to a climate of unease within the community, with the barber shop owner expressing that "you can never be safe." This follows a broader context of rising anti-immigration protests and anxieties in the region, impacting the sense of security for individuals from immigrant backgrounds.