Downpatrick: Murder inquiry after man dies in stabbing attack

Image source, Pacemaker

A 28-year-old man has died following a stabbing incident in Downpatrick, County Down.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has begun a murder investigation after the attack in Church Street on Monday.

It happened at about 11:00 GMT and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Det Ch Insp John Caldwell appealed for information.

Image source, Pacemaker

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it sent several crews to the incident after it received a 999 call about an assault in Church Street.

It deployed an air ambulance crew, three emergency crews and a rapid response paramedic to the scene.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, no patients were taken to hospital," an NIAS spokesman said.

Image source, Pacemaker

Assembly member Colin McGrath, from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), told 91热爆 News NI it was the second stabbing to take place on Church Street in recent days.

He condemned the incident and said "the local community will be understandably shocked".

Sinn F茅in councillor Cathy Mason described reports of the stabbing as disturbing and urged anyone with information to contact police.

"My thoughts and prayers with family and friends of the victim," she added.

House of Lords member Baroness Margaret Ritchie also sent her deepest sympathies to the dead man's family and friends.

"I totally condemn this murder which will be abhorred by all the population in Downpatrick and further afield," she said.

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"This follows on from the stabbing incident in the town a few days ago," the peer added.

"Both incidents are not characteristic of life, society and our community in Downpatrick and understandably the local population in Church Street and the wider town area will be traumatised and appalled by this incident."

The earlier stabbing took place at a bar in Church Street on Saturday morning, 1 January.

However, it is understood police are not investigating a link at this time between Saturday's stabbing and the murder on Monday.