Two arrested in NI sledgehammer investigation

A second man has been arrested in connection with a vicious sledgehammer assault in Northern Ireland.

Police have blamed loyalist paramilitaries for a vicious sledgehammer attack in which a man suffered two broken legs and head injuries in Northern Ireland today.

Up to six masked men burst into the 44-year-old victim’s Manor Avenue home in Bangor, Co Down before beating him.

Detective Inspector Jeff Smyth said he was keeping an open mind on the motive for the “vicious attack”.

“We believe that possibly a sledgehammer was used,” he said.

“There are some head injuries and there are some marks within this property that indicates an instrument of blunt force was used.

“One of his legs is very seriously injured and he received breaks to both legs and a fracture to his wrist.”

The assailants made off in a white car, which was found on fire in Drumhirk Drive in the nearby Kilcooley Estate shortly after the attack, which occurred around 2am.

Officers arrested one man near the scene of the fire and are questioning him about the beating.

Police later arrested a second man in connection with the assault.

Cannabis and a quantity of steroids were also seized by police during follow-up house searches.