Northern Ireland police arrest and charge a man in his 30s over the attack on i24NEWS

A man in his 30s has been arrested and charged following an attack on an Israeli i24NEWS crew in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as concerns over antisemitism and hostility toward Israeli journalists continue to draw attention.

The suspect faces charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, assaulting a police officer and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The case is expected to be reviewed by Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service, while the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident took place over the weekend as i24NEWS reporter Jonathan Roe and photographer Nadav Abs were filming a documentary series examining the rise of antisemitism in Europe. According to reports, the crew was interviewing people at a Belfast bar complex when a local man allegedly became aggressive after learning that they were an Israeli television crew.

The suspect reportedly attempted to take the crew’s camera equipment and continued to interfere with their work. When Roe and Abs tried to leave the area, he allegedly followed them and behaved threateningly. After the journalists sought assistance from nearby security personnel, the suspect allegedly threw a large glass beer mug at Abs from close range.

The glass struck the photographer in the head, leaving him with a bleeding injury. The crew later left the scene safely and did not require further medical treatment.

The attack has prompted renewed discussion about the atmosphere facing Israelis and Jews in parts of Europe.

Speaking to i24NEWS, David McIlveen, a former Northern Ireland legislator and founder of DUP Friends of Israel, strongly condemned the incident.

“This was a disgusting, despicable attack on three journalists,” McIlveen said. “This is not the Northern Ireland that I grew up in, the Northern Ireland that I’m still very proud to call home.”

McIlveen said he hoped the journalists would not allow the incident to define their experience of Northern Ireland.

“I hope that they will remember the good things that they saw in Northern Ireland and not be defining the place by this despicable attack,” he said.

At the same time, McIlveen acknowledged that antisemitism and hostility toward Israel are concerns that must be addressed. He argued that the current climate is influenced not only by Northern Ireland’s complicated history, but also by developments across Europe and the impact of social media.

“I think there’s a clear problem, but I believe it is an isolated problem,” he said, while stressing that Northern Ireland has its own experience with political violence that should inform how people respond to the conflict in the Middle East.

“Northern Ireland, of all places, knows the difference between a victim and a terrorist,” McIlveen said. “We’ve had to learn that the hard way.” “There are many, many more supporters for Israel than there would be in lots of other parts of the United Kingdom,” he said.

Addressing Israelis who may now feel increasingly uncomfortable or unsafe traveling in Europe, McIlveen acknowledged that incidents such as the Belfast attack can understandably fuel those concerns.

“First of all, I would say I get it. I understand,” he said. “Certainly when you see scenes like what happened in Belfast and what happened in other places, I completely understand why Israeli people may be feeling that way.”

But he urged Israelis not to allow isolated incidents to shape their entire perception of Northern Ireland.

“I can assure all of your viewers that certainly when it comes to Northern Ireland, it is an open, welcome place for everyone,” McIlveen said. “We support you 100%. And please do not be discouraged by a small group of people who are too blind to see the reality of what’s going on.”

Roe and Abs have since completed their work in Northern Ireland and returned safely to Israel. The Belfast incident is part of a wider i24NEWS documentary project examining the rise of antisemitism in Europe and beyond.