Gavin Robinson adds that last night's attack will have a "profound impact".

“This needs to be a time for honesty and openness and truth."

He says the government needs to "recognise that uncontrolled immigration needs to end" and says people "for too long have had their concerns ignored".

Robinson adds that he shared the secretary's concern over the potential for violence, saying: "Community cohesion lies on the precipice."

Image source, Parliament TV

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson says the attempted murder in Belfast was "chilling".

He says what has been seen by "thousands across the country cannot be unseen", referring to video footage widely circulating on social media.

"It was medieval," he adds and describes it as "systematic mutilation" and "slaughter".

He praises the "brave man" who intervened and helped "with a hurl in his hand".

Benn repeats the police's appeal not to share footage of the attack out of respect for the victim and his family.

He also echoes the words of the prime minister, saying "there is no place for such violence on our streets".

Benn says everyone has a responsibility to urge calm and let the police do their job.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn says that even in the horror of what happened, there was extraordinary action.

He praised those who "stepped forward at immense risk to their own safety" and "intervened to pull the assailant away and protect the victim until the police arrived".

"To those individuals i would like to say this. You showed the very best of humanity and you have the profound gratitude of this entire house."

Image source, Parliament TV

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn says his thoughts are with the victim's family at a time of "unimaginable distress".

"A man in his 40s was subjected to an horrific, sustained knife attack," Benn says, saying the man suffered "very severe injuries".

The police response was immediate and a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and the incident has been declared "critical", Benn says.

He praises the "extraordinary" actions of the public who did not walk on by.

Gavin Robinson asks the secretary of state for Northern Ireland to make a statement on a "serious violent attack" in north Belfast.

He says the incident involved a foreign national, and asks what the implications are for public safety, immigration enforcement and community cohesion.

We have an update from the police on the nationality of the alleged attacker.

The PSNI has released a statement confirming that the man in custody on suspicion of attempted murder is Sudanese, and not Somali "as initially believed".

The Belfast attack is to be discussed by MPs shortly in the House of Commons, after DUP leader Gavin Robinson tabled an urgent question.

We'll have updates here and you can watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, Aodhán Roberts

Here's what we've learned so far this morning:

• A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a "brutal" knife attack in Belfast, police have said
• The man, who police believe to be Somali, remains in custody after the incident in north Belfast at about 22:30 BST on Monday
• Video circulating online shows a number of people, including one wielding a hurling stick, confronting the apparent attacker until the police arrived
• A man injured in the attack, aged in his 40s, is in hospital where his condition is described as serious with significant injuries to his face, neck and back
• Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said "a critical incident" has been declared and police have begun an investigation to establish a motive
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the incident was "sickening" while Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill described it as "appalling"

Image source, Liam McBurney/PA

The Belfast knife attack is set to be discussed by MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.

The leader of the DUP, Gavin Robinson, has been granted an urgent question on the incident.

Writing on social media, Robinson said he will be asking Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn if he will make a a statement on "reports of a serious violent attack in north Belfast involving a foreign national, and the implications for public safety, immigration enforcement and community cohesion".

Urgent questions are scheduled to begin at about 12:30. Please stay with us.

Image source, Aodhán Roberts

The North West Migrants Forum said it was "absolutely horrified" by the incident in north Belfast and added that its "prayers are with the victim and their family at this terrible time".

"We are also thinking of all those who witnessed this horrendous incident and who no doubt are deeply traumatised by it," they said.

"We include within that members of the emergency services whose swift actions no doubt prevented an even greater tragedy.

"To those who rushed to the victim's aid and helped apprehend the attacker, you showed tremendous courage in the face of absolute barbarism."

It added that it understood that "many people will feel frightened, angry and in want of answers".

"Our members are also frightened. Good, decent, honest men and women fretting this morning about what last night's attack will mean for them.

"The overwhelming majority of people who come through our door desire only to live in peace and to build a life for themselves and their families."

It asked that the the PSNI "be allowed to do their job and establish all the facts",

Image source, PA Media

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn said the incident was "deeply shocking and all our thoughts are with the victim, who is seriously injured in hospital, and with his loved ones".

"I would like to thank the individuals who showed extraordinary bravery in coming to his aid," he added."This is a live PSNI investigation and I have spoken to the Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher.

"We all have a responsibility to urge calm while the police do their job, so that the perpetrator of this horrific attack faces the full force of the law."

Image source, Social Media

A man in his 30s was arrested after the attack on suspicion of attempted murder.

This image was taken from a video that is circulating on social media following the incident.

Paul McCusker, an independent councillor in the area where the attack happened, said some residents witnessed the incident.

"One lady said she had to go to hospital herself because of the stress of witnessing such a brutal attack," he said.

McCusker praised the "brave residents" who he said intervened to stop the attack.

"I've never seen an attack like this happen on the streets of north Belfast," he added.

Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long has called for the police to be given time to investigate the north Belfast knife attack so the perpetrator can be brought to justice.

"I understand people will be frightened, I understand that some people will be angry, but we need to have calm heads," she told a press conference inside Stormont's Great Hall.

"We need to stay cool and allow the police to do their job of investigation."

Long said she wanted "more than anything" to see the perpetrator held accountable, but warned against any escalation of the situation.

"I do not want to see ramping up of tensions, I do not want to see other innocent people's lives ruined as a result of what was a completely unacceptable and outrageous attack."

Image source, Aodhán Roberts

SDLP Councillor Carl Whyte said he understood the "fear, shock and horror" that people are experiencing.

Speaking at the scene, he said: "It's absolutely frightening."

"Our thoughts are with the victim. I can't imagine what it was like to go through that. He is lying in a hospital today and our thoughts are with him and his family."

White has spoken to residents and said they're "absolutely frightened" and added people are going through very difficult emotions today.

"It's understandable to be absolutely terrorised and frightened by what we've seen."

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said she was “absolutely horrified” by the attack in Belfast.

Asked by journalists about the incident which took place on Monday night, she said she had seen “grainy images” of the incident.

She added: “I’m absolutely horrified.

“I haven’t heard anything about who the attacker might have been, but I think a lot of people will start wondering yet again, is this someone who should not have been in our country? Have there been failings around our borders?"

She urged the police to "bring the facts out as quickly as possible so that we can get some clarity".

Image source, James Manning/PA Wire

Chloe Gibson
BBC News NI

Image source, Rebecca Black/PA Wire

Police cordons remain in place and a number of officers and vehicles are present at the scene.

Some local residents have congregated in their front gardens and are talking to each other over garden fences.

Local politicians are speaking to the media and sharing their thoughts on what has happened.

Cars line both sides of the road, most of them belonging to journalists.

The scene of the incident is in a busy housing estate, with close proximity to a local community centre.

Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit (PBP) said: "I want to say unequivocally that the violent attack on a person in north Belfast last night was totally unacceptable, wrong and absolutely horrific."

Carroll said he also wanted to "appeal for calm" in the wake of the attack.

He warned that anyone "attempting to use this event to whip up racism should be called out and should be absolutely condemned".

Carroll pointed to riots in Ballymena last summer when refugee and migrant families were burnt out of their homes, saying such attacks had "solved nothing".

"No community, Mr Speaker, should be singled out or blamed for the heinous attacks of an individual, regardless of their colour, regardless of their skin or regardless of what country or what city they were born in," he added.

Image source, PA Media

Matthew O'Toole from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) described the attack as "horrific and depraved".

O'Toole, who is the leader of the Opposition at Stormont, said he had seen the video himself, but urged others not to watch it or to share it online.

"Not just because it is depraved and shocking, but because we don't want people to have to see that and we don't want the dignity of the victim to be compromised any further," he said.

O'Toole said political leaders must "choose their words carefully".

"We cannot ignore there are dark actors trying to take advantage of the situation to create more tension, and more fear," he said.

"No ethnicity or race has a monopoly on violence."