Incident and investigation under way
Police in Belfast are investigating an assault reported to have taken place in the early hours of Tuesday, 20 October, in which a man sustained serious injuries to his left forearm after being attacked with what is reported to have been a machete.
The incident was reported to have occurred between midnight and 1am at the junction of Albert Street and Servia Street in West Belfast. The victim, described by police as a man in his 40s, attended hospital for treatment following the assault. The suspect is reported to have fled the scene in the direction of Grosvenor Road.
Police appeal to the public
Detective Sergeant Long is leading enquiries and has asked anyone with information to come forward. Officers are particularly keen to trace motorists or pedestrians who may have captured the incident on dash‑cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage.
“Police received a report that a man had been attacked at the junction of Albert Street and Servia Street sometime between midnight and 1am. The man, aged in his 40s, sustained serious injuries to his left foreman, after being assaulted with what is reported to have been a machete. The man attended hospital for treatment. The suspect is believed to have made off from the scene in the direction of Grosvenor Road.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 35 20/10/26. The PSNI has also provided alternative routes for reporting:
- Submit a report using the online non‑emergency form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Immediate local impact
Attacks of this nature have a direct effect on community confidence in affected neighbourhoods. In a compact urban area such as West Belfast, officers will typically canvass for witnesses and review local CCTV and private camera footage to establish the movements of those involved and any vehicle descriptions or registration numbers.
While police have not released further detail about the suspect, the specified direction of travel — towards Grosvenor Road — gives investigators an immediate corridor to search for witnesses and camera evidence. Residents and businesses in that area may be contacted as part of the enquiry.
What residents should do if they were nearby
- Check any dash‑cam, doorbell or shop CCTV footage for the period between midnight and 1am in the Albert Street/Servia Street/Grosvenor Road area.
- Note any relevant vehicle registrations, makes, colours and times if recollections can assist the enquiry.
- Preserve any images or screenshots and be prepared to share them with police when requested.
- If you witnessed the incident, contact police on 101 quoting reference 35 20/10/26 or use the online reporting form.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Junction of Albert Street and Servia Street, West Belfast |
| Time | Between midnight and 1am, 20 October |
| Victim | Man, aged in his 40s — serious injuries to left forearm |
| Suspect | Fled towards Grosvenor Road |
| Police reference | 35 20/10/26 |
It is standard practice in incidents involving serious injury for detectives to secure the scene, interview witnesses and request relevant footage from highways and private cameras. For local people, timely sharing of information such as dash‑cam clips can be decisive in identifying suspects and corroborating accounts.
The PSNI has urged anyone who was in the Albert Street or Servia Street areas around the time of the assault to get in touch. Those with information but who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crimestoppers.
Further updates will be issued by police as enquiries progress.
