Family of Belfast victim appeals for calm and stresses ‘deeply valuable contribution’ of many migrants – UK politics live

From 1h agoFamily of Belfast knife attack victim appeal for calm, in statement stressing 'valuable contribution' migrants make

The family of the victim in the Belfast knife attack have issued a statement via Phillip Brett, a DUP member of the legislative assembly.

They ask for privacy and say they are “completely devastated by the horrific attack on our loved one”.

They praise those who came to their relative’s aid, saying:

We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.

And they urge those angered by the attack to refrain from violence, saying:

We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.

We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.

Brett has posted the family’s statement on Facebook.

Severin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.",},,,,,,,],"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.56 CEST","blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"15.01 CEST","title":"Racist violence in Glasgow last night left five people, including two police officers, injured, Police Scotland says",},,,,,],"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.01 CEST","blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.47 CEST","title":"Sinn Féin's president Mary Lou McDonald says Belfast rioting 'orchestrated by loyalist and far-right thugs'",},,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,],"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"13.45 CEST","blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"13.55 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayN