Weapons seized in search for crucifixion gang
Officers searched five homes and a derelict flat in the loyalist Seymour Hill estate near the spot where 23-year-old Harry McCartan was beaten savagely and crucified.
Bats, knives, clothing, a computer and documents were taken for examination last night.
A police spokesman said a crime scenes officer had examined marks found during an examination of one house.
As the search continued, a spokeswoman for the local residents' association said local people did not condone the attack.
"Feelings have been running high since a large spate of vehicle crime in our area. Hopefully the incident has brought more attention for more policing to prevent any further car crime," she said.
Harry McCartan branded his attackers "cowards".
"Nobody should be treated like this. They are just cowards. I was on my own and it took more than four people to do this. They are lower than animals," he said.
Mr McCartan, from the nationalist Poleglass Estate, was released from prison last month after serving a sentence for car theft.
Police believe the attack was related to alleged car crime in the area.
But Mr McCartan denied he was stealing cars when the attack happened.
"I don't know what I did wrong but what they did wasn't right.
"If I was going out looking for a car, I wouldn't bring my own car with me."
His face was swollen badly and his hands, punctured by two large holes, were heavily bandaged. His left leg was broken in two places while the right had puncture wounds, believed to have been caused by sticks with nails embedded in them.
He was discovered after emergency services received an anonymous phone call and found him slumped at a stile with nails hammered through his hands.
The nails had been bent so that firefighters had to cut around the wood to remove him to hospital.
