Gerry Carroll made the following statement on the far-right opinion herders starting up their predictable divisive comment campaign:
"People in North Belfast and far beyond are horrified at the stabbing incident that took place last night. This was a shocking and brutal attack. I want to commend the actions of the people who intervened in what was a dangerous and quick moving situation."
"What has been telling is the speed with which the British far-right has descended on this tragedy. Already we have seen establishment politicians such as Nigel Farage, Rupert Lowe and others try to jump on a tragic incident and use it for their own divisive, nasty ends. These people don’t give a damn about working class people in Belfast. We shouldn’t let them exploit people’s real concern and fear for their own racist purposes."
"Their goal is to import the same poisonous, anti-migrant politics they have stoked in England, the US and across the world."
"Farage, Lowe and their ilk have form in trying to stir up division when attacks happen or crimes occur. They don’t care about victims or communities faced with pain or trauma. They are only interested in furthering their own quest for power."
"Similarly, the world’s richest man Elon Musk has tried to throw his oar in. Tax-dodging spongers and far-right grifters have absolutely nothing to offer people in the North. Their goal is to import the same poisonous, anti-migrant politics they have stoked in England, the US and across the world."
"Our migrant neighbours are part of this society. We won’t allow far-right opportunists to turn one community against another. Our strength has always been in standing together - working class people of all backgrounds - against those who seek to divide us."