Man held over hammer attack

A man was arrested today after a gang went on the rampage attacking people with hammers.

One man was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after being struck during a burglary at his home in south Belfast.

Two other men sustained less serious injuries as the gang roamed through the neighbourhood.

The 54-year-old victim was in bed with his wife in Strangford Avenue in the Malone area of the city when a gang of four entered the house around 6.30am and attacked him.

They left after stealing the couple’s house and car keys and used their Vauxhall Frontera car to ram through driveway gates.

The gang then made their way to a second house in the street where they attacked an elderly man and his son with a hammer before attempting to steal their car.

The son sustained a head injury while his father suffered a blow to his wrist.

The men then went to nearby Harberton Park where they hijacked a white Volkswagen Polo and drove to Balmoral Avenue where police stopped the vehicle.

Two of the men ran off towards Musgrave Park Hospital while a third man ran towards the Boucher Road.

A fourth man was arrested close to the scene and was helping police in connection with the burglary and assault.