02/09/2011

Northern Stabbing 'Attempted Murder'

The overnight stabbing of a teenager in north Belfast is being treated as attempted murder by the North's police.

The victim, a 19-year-old, is in a stable condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after being attacked in Cliftonville Avenue at about 10pm last night.

Later, the PSNI surrounded a property and arrested four people as part of the investigation into the attack, that is not believed to be sectarian in motive. The North Belfast Alliance Representative Billy Webb has condemned the incident.

"This was an absolutely appalling incident and my thoughts are with the man who was injured. I am stunned at the sheer brutality of this attack.

"Knife crime has a devastating impact and can tear families apart. Those involved in this horrific incident must be brought to justice and I call on anyone with information on this to contact police immediately," said the politician and Newtownabbey Mayor.

The SDLP North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness has also said people in his community are shocked: "People here are shocked at the viciousness of this attack and I welcome the arrests which have taken place since this incident," he said.

(BMcC/GK)

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