Asylum seeker studying at Belfast college slashed flatmate with a knife, court told – The Irish News

Atef Abdullah, 24, is accused of stabbing the other man twice after a row broke out on Saturday night

A man allegedly slashed open his neighbour’s arm in a knife attack at their shared accommodation in south Belfast, a court has heard.

Atef Abdullah, 24, is accused of stabbing the other man twice after a row broke out on Saturday night.

The defendant, a Sudanese asylum seeker with an address at Hatfield Street in the city, faces charges of possessing an offensive weapon and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday the victim told police he had intervened in a bid to calm Abdullah during an altercation with another individual at the property.

The defendant allegedly responded by pushing him against a wall and swinging a knife towards his abdomen.

“As he tried to defend himself he was stabbed twice in the left forearm, causing one slash and a puncture wound,” a PSNI officer said.

The victim was taken to hospital where medical staff established that a muscle had been exposed by the knife attack.

“They could see the muscle visibility moving when the injured party moved his fingers,” the officer added.

Abdullah was further charged with possessing Class B drugs after a quantity of cannabis was discovered in his room.

Defence solicitor John McGrath confirmed his client will be contesting the wounding and weapon charges.

The court heard Abdullah arrived in Belfast in late 2023 and is currently studying at Belfast Metropolitan College while he waits for his asylum claim to be determined.

District Judge Steven Keown granted him bail if an approved alternative address can be found.

Adjourning the case until November 3, Mr Keown also imposed a ban on Abdullah entering Belfast except to attend college.

by Portal_Jumper125

29 comments

  2. should be immediately stripped of any chance of staying here and placement in uni gone, ruined his chance here what a rat

  3. Instead of having to stay out of lower Ormeau like any white defendant he’s outa Belfast

  4. >The court heard Abdullah arrived in Belfast in late 2023 and is currently studying at Belfast Metropolitan College while he waits for his asylum claim to be determined.

    I’d determine it as cancelled.

  6. Ah yes, Sudan, the famously civil and nonviolent country

  7. Yeah let’s just share crimes that are only committed by foreign nationals. Let’s drive that anti immigration narrative guys. A local white man murders woman? No shelf that. No one wants to hear about that nonsense.

  8. Glad to see theyre assimilating, theyll be a Limerick native in no time.

  10. Well, the one plus point is that for once the foreign national didn’t require an interpreter, probably a first and a few quid saved…

  14. Given asylum here and access to our college and then slashes a resident here with a knife🤦 surely he will be deported now?

  15. Imagine how much money this one cunt has cost us already. Money to house him, money for food, money to educate him, money for a solictor. Thousands wasted on a violent scumbag who shouldn’t even be here in the first place.

  16. How can you go to college when your an asylum seeker. I thought we have to save alot of money to go to college

  17. Asylum seeker studying at Belfast college?

    Can you be seeking asylum and a student at the same time?

    They’re quite different.

  18. Fuck this bullshit headline. Are we supposed to think all asylum seekers are criminals now?

  19. Sigh, here we go again.

    There’s one word that appears in that article that always has to be considered; accused. Unless convicted, remains an innocent man in the eyes of the law. Whilst everyone is equal under the law, the more serious the accusation, the more important it is that justice is followed.

    That’s not a defence. That’s not a plea for leniency, clemency or anything else.

    For those calling for immediate deportation and/or stripped of student visa, be glad that’s not how our legal system works.

  22. I wonder if the inevitable human rights lawyer intervention might take into account the human rights of the local population – in not wanting to get stabbed by someone who is clearly going to be a drain on our society.

  23. The thing that never happens seems to keep happening 

  24. I’m not saying immigrants should be sent home, but if this one isn’t, then more people will

  25. If (and that’s an important if) he’s found guilty, he should be deported. The minimum of any good faith asylum application should be following the laws of the host nation.

  26. If he is convicted then off to prison and then when released deported straight away

  27. They be all over this but not tge local terrorists

  28. I’ve seen people get put away for attempted murder for less.

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