McGregor Calls for Military Action on Asylum Centers After Attack
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has called for military deployment to clear asylum centers following a Belfast knife attack by a Sudanese asylum-seeker that sparked anti-immigration protests.
The mixed martial arts star, who has emerged as one of Ireland’s most vocal critics of current immigration policy, issued his call on social media platform X on June 9, according to Brussels Signal.
McGregor specifically called for armed forces to be sent into facilities run by IPAS, the Republic of Ireland’s asylum accommodation service, demanding that all illegal entrants be removed from the island immediately.
His statement came in response to a brutal stabbing that occurred in north Belfast late on June 8, when a man in his 40s suffered serious wounds to his face, eyes, neck and back in a sustained knife attack.
A 30-year-old Sudanese national was subsequently charged with attempted murder, possession of a knife in a public place, and making threats to kill. The suspect appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on the charges.
Police confirmed that the accused had been granted leave to remain in the UK in 2023 after claiming asylum and had no prior criminal record. Authorities stated there was no indication the attack was terrorism-related.
Widespread Unrest Follows Stabbing
The charges ignited immediate protests as hundreds took to the streets across Belfast. Demonstrators set fire to a bus in east Belfast and torched multiple cars and bins, while businesses owned by foreigners came under attack.
The unrest rapidly spread beyond Northern Ireland, with demonstrations erupting in Southampton in southern England. Police reported at least four arrests on the first night of protests, with three officers sustaining injuries.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the stabbing as sickening, while Northern Ireland’s main party leaders issued a joint statement describing the attack as horrific and calling for calm.
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill cautioned against attempts to exploit the attack to target migrant communities. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson called for the suspect’s deportation if convicted.
McGregor Amplifies Right-Wing Voices
McGregor, who holds no elected office but commands a massive social media following, has repeatedly used his platform to criticize Irish and British government migration policies. He reposted a call for nationwide rallies from right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.
The episode mirrors previous incidents, including 2025 anti-immigration riots in the Northern Irish town of Ballymena that drove out much of the local Roma population, and protests following a fatal stabbing in Dublin in 2023.
Despite police emphasis that the Belfast investigation remains ongoing, the attack has reignited fierce debate over asylum policy across Ireland and the United Kingdom, with political leaders facing mounting pressure to address public concerns over immigration and public safety.
With information from Brussels Signal
