Overview
- Police responded to a stabbing on Kinnaird Avenue shortly after 10:30pm on Monday and arrested a man in his 30s who remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
- The victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to hospital with significant wounds to his face, neck and back and is reported to be in a serious or critical condition.
- Footage circulating on social media appears to show the attacker repeatedly striking the victim while bystanders intervened to restrain him, and officers recovered a small Stanley-style knife at the scene according to local reports.
- Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has declared the case a critical incident, said detectives are working to establish a motive, and asked anyone with dash-cam or CCTV to contact police quoting reference 1654 08/06/26.
- Political leaders across Northern Ireland have condemned the assault, urged calm, and backed police appeals not to share graphic video because it could harm the investigation and distress the victim’s family.