Four charged over bandsmen stabbings

Four men were today charged with stabbing two loyalist bandsmen in north Belfast.

The bandsmen suffered serious injuries when they and a third man were set upon as they walked along the Shore Road early on Saturday morning.

One suffered a stab wound to the stomach and underwent emergency surgery and the other received a stab wound to the neck.

The four men, in their late teens and early twenties, have each been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing actual bodily harm.

They are expected to appeal before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.

Politicians on both sides of the community in troubled north Belfast condemned the attack which they said only served to heighten tensions in the area.

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds has appealed for calm.

There was a brief stand-off between nationalists and loyalists after members of the loyalist Royal Black Institution returned through the area from their annual parades last night, but there was no trouble.