A 42-year-old man was arrested in north Belfast after a prolonged confrontation that saw him climb onto the roof of a house, throw roof tiles at officers and damage several vehicles late on Sunday night.
Incident on Lepper Street
Police were called to a property on Lepper Street shortly after midnight following reports involving a man and a woman who both had facial injuries. According to officers, the man became aggressive while inside the house and, when located hiding, threatened officers with a knife.
Armed units attended and the man climbed onto the roof, removing and hurling tiles towards police. In total, seven cars were reported damaged — five police vehicles and two belonging to members of the public — and at least one officer was struck by a thrown tile and later taken to hospital with a suspected fracture.
“This man’s violent actions placed officers and nearby members of the public at risk,”
The quoted remarks were made by Inspector Knowles, who described the scale of the disruption and the potential for serious harm from the barrage of roof tiles and thrown objects.
Police response and arrest
Officers withdrew initially to protect those still inside the property. An Armed Response Unit and an incapacitant spray were deployed during attempts to bring the situation under control. Despite the spray, the man continued to throw tiles and a knife was reportedly thrown at officers. A trained negotiator eventually persuaded him to come down shortly after 2.20am, and he was arrested on suspicion of multiple offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and assault on police.
The suspect remains in custody while inquiries continue.
Impact on local community and policing
Inspector Knowles said officers will be in the area to continue enquiries and to check nearby properties and vehicles for further damage. He added that five police vehicles are off the road as a result and that local residents experienced disruption and distress at a time when they were trying to sleep.
Police have appealed for anyone with information, including CCTV or dash-cam footage, to come forward to assist the investigation.
- Location: Lepper Street, north Belfast
- Time: shortly after midnight (incident concluded c. 2.20am)
- Suspect: 42-year-old man, arrested and in custody
- Damage: seven vehicles (five police, two civilian) and property damage to the house
- Injuries: at least one officer with a suspected fracture; others at scene had facial injuries
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Arrest | Man detained on suspicion of multiple offences |
| Police response | Armed units, incapacitant spray, trained negotiator |
| Vehicles damaged | 5 police, 2 civilian |
For residents in the area, police have asked anyone with relevant footage or information to contact local detectives to aid their enquiries.
This account is based on details provided by the police following the incident; further updates will be published as inquiries progress.
