Two PSNI officers assaulted in separate incidents

Two police officers required hospital treatment after sustaining injuries during separate incidents in Belfast on Saturday.

One of the officers sustained a fractured wrist after he was kicked in the arm while attending a report of a fight at retail premises on Ardoyne Avenue at 19:35 BST, police said.

In a separate event, an hour later, an officer was bit in the University Street area of south Belfast after attending an ongoing fight between a number of men.

Three men were arrested over the two incidents and remain in custody.

Police attended the commotion on Ardoyne Avenue after reports that that a 34-year-old man had punched a man and a woman.

The male victim had been left with sustained facial injuries, and the woman had been punched and pushed to the ground after trying to step in to help.

On their arrival, officers found the suspect in the street shouting and swearing at members of the public.

When officers detained the man he became physically violent and kicked an officer to the arm.

Police say the officer suffered a fractured wrist as a result of the fracas, and was removed from duty to attend hospital.

An hour later, police arrested two men after attending a reported fight, involving a number of men, in the University Street area of Belfast.

Two of the men involved are alleged to have begun to verbally abuse and assault two bystanders, actions which are being treated as racially-motivated hate crimes.

As police arrived, a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

The second suspect, aged 26, was confrontational before making off.

When the officer caught up with him after a short foot chase, he bit the officer on the forearm, leaving permanent scarring and requiring the officer to need hospital treatment.

He was then arrested on suspicion of assault, resisting police and disorderly behaviour.

In a statement, Supt Dornan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers “do not deserve to be assaulted simply for doing their job”.

“These incidents highlight the grim reality of the shameful behaviour which we run the risk of being confronted with every time we attend a call.

“I commend the courage and professionalism of the injured officers. Their welfare is being supported and they are receiving the appropriate care.

“These local officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. We are extremely proud of the way they, and all our officers, serve the public each and every day.”