Possible Link Between Belfast Taser Gun Attacks

Police have said that two attacks in Belfast City Centre in which a taser stun gun was used "may be linked".

The first incident occurred in Donegall Square North shortly before 7pm on Saturday evening, 27 April, and saw a man in his sixties assaulted. An unknown male was reported to have pinned the victim to the ground before punching him and then fleeing on foot. It was also reported that a taser stun gun may have been used during the attack.

The suspect is described as being of a heavy build, with black hair and thought to be aged in his late twenties. He is reported to have worn a red Adidas tracksuit top that was zipped with a white hood underneath, black tracksuit bottoms with white stripes down the side and white trainers. 

Detective Sergeant Eric Fairfield commented: "This must have been an extremely distressing ordeal for the victim who was treated at the scene by staff from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. 

"Our enquiries are at an early stage, and I would appeal to anyone who saw what happened to get in touch with us."

Meanwhile, a staff member was left in shock after a commercial premises on North Queen Street was robbed.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, two males entered the business, one of whom was armed with a taser stun gun. They threatened the employee before fleeing with a sum of money.

DS Fairfield added: "One of the suspects is described as being tall and wore a red and white Adidas jacket, green shorts, white trainers and had his head and face covered. The second suspect is described as wearing a blue/green-coloured jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, grey knee-length shorts and had his face covered. 

"We believe these two incidents may be linked and I want to appeal to anyone who has information about either of them and which may assist our investigation, or who witnessed either incident to call detectives at Musgrave on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 38 of 28/04/19 or 1044 of 27/04/19." 



(JG/CM)