A 42-year-old man has been arrested following a reported assault and a protracted two-hour stand-off with police in north Belfast, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed. The incident, which began shortly after midnight on Tuesday on Lepper Street, resulted in injuries to two people in the property, damage to seven vehicles and a police officer taken to hospital.
What happened
Officers were called to a house on Lepper Street just after 00:00 BST after a report that a woman had been assaulted. On arrival, police found a woman and another man with facial injuries. The suspect was subsequently located concealed inside a wardrobe in the property.
According to the PSNI, the man threatened officers with a knife, which forced them to withdraw from the immediate area to protect the injured occupants. An Armed Response Unit was deployed and, at one point, the suspect climbed on to the roof of the property. He threw the knife at officers and began removing roof tiles, hurling them in their direction.
Police response and arrest
An incapacitant spray was used in an attempt to subdue the individual but he continued to throw tiles. An officer was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured arm. With the assistance of a trained negotiator, police brought the man down from the roof and arrested him at about 02:20.
"[The man's actions] placed officers and nearby members of the public at risk. There was the potential to cause life-changing or even fatal injury to those present,"
The arrested man remains in custody. He was taken into custody on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and assault on police. A police investigation is ongoing and officers continued to make enquiries in the area on Tuesday.
Damage and local impact
Police said there was "considerable damage" to the property. Seven vehicles were substantially damaged during the incident; five of those were police vehicles and two belonged to members of the public who were not involved in the events. Officers have appealed for anyone with footage or information to assist the investigation.
- Time of call: shortly after 00:00 BST
- Arrest time: about 02:20
- Vehicles damaged: 7 (5 police, 2 private)
- Suspected injuries: two people with facial injuries; one officer with suspected fractured arm
| Item | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicles substantially damaged | 7 |
| Police vehicles damaged | 5 |
| Private vehicles damaged | 2 |
Local residents may notice an increased police presence while enquiries continue. Anyone with dash‑cam footage, phone recordings or information relevant to the incident is asked to contact the PSNI to help the investigation.
This office will update on any further developments, including any charges formally brought following the conclusion of police enquiries.
