Downpatrick community ‘absolutely shocked’ after attempted torching of man and woman

Footage shared with the Belfast Telegraph appears to show a man waving a large knife before punching a man in the face. The man then appears to punch a woman to the ground.

The footage cuts away before the man returns to the property with a lighter.

In a statement, police said they had received reports that a man and woman had been doused with gasoline before attempting to set them on fire.

The man was also stabbed in the face during the Downpatrick attack on Wednesday, which police are calling an attempted murder.

A local councilor said it was an “incredibly sinister” incident which could have had tragic consequences.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Shortly after 1.40am officers were made aware of a report that a man aged in his 40s had been stabbed inside a property in the St John’s Mews district.

“It was reported that a man threw a petrol bomb towards the property before entering and stabbed the male occupant in the face.

“It was also reported that he threw petrol on himself and a female occupant, before attempting to set them on fire.

“A second woman who was inside the property at the time managed to grab a lighter from the suspect, who fled the scene on foot.”

Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries, which were not life-threatening.

The spokesperson added: “Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene as a precautionary measure.

“A number of residents were evacuated while officers secured the building.

“An investigation to establish the circumstances of this incident, which we describe as an attempted murder, is underway.”

SDLP Downpatrick councilor Conor Galbraith said he was “absolutely shocked” and it was “the last thing parents and young families want to hear about on their doorstep”.

He said this type of incident was “not what Downpatrick needed”.

Mr Galbraith added: “We have been through some pretty tough times over the last few months, the last thing we want to see or hear is attempted murder in the city.

“In this particular area I think residents are tearing their hair out when it comes to anti-social behavior in general.

“To my knowledge, this is not the first type of major incident in this particular area and we are going to have to do something regarding the local elected officials and the police to bring things back to calm.”

Mr Galbraith said people were “shocked” by the incident.

“It is extremely fortunate that no one suffered life-threatening injuries or worse as a result of this senseless attack,” he added.

“The use of a knife and gasoline in this incident is incredibly sinister and could have had tragic consequences. This will have been an incredibly traumatic experience for those attacked and everyone involved in this incident. My thoughts are with them and I hope that those injured make a full and speedy recovery.

“I would appeal to anyone with information about what happened here to come forward to the police and help them with their investigation. No one wants to see incidents like this in our community and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.

Alliance councilor Cadogan Enright said the house was “very close” to his own house and he was “very shocked”.

He added that an attack of this nature would be “unheard of” in the region.

Catch-up news: Tuesday May 14, 2024