Man quizzed after dismembered body found

A man was being questioned by police today after the discovery of a dismembered body in the courtyard of a block of flats in east Belfast.

The body, of a male, was found in the yard of Pottinger House in the Mount area of the city yesterday evening.

The arrest was made shortly afterwards.

A post mortem will be carried out later, said a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman.

She added: “We can confirm that the body had been dismembered and was male.”

It is understood that no identification has yet been possible.

East Belfast Assembly member Robin Newton said the discovery had created fear in the area.

He said: “This is a close-knit community around the Mount area and there would be a lot of concern that someone who was prepared to carry out such violence would be living in the community.”

Mr Newton said the only way people would begin to feel safe again was when the person or persons responsible were behind bars.

He added: “My understanding is that police were acting on information received from the public of suspicious circumstances. They followed it up and made the horrific find of the body.

“My understanding is the body had been dismembered and was being prepared for removal from the scene.”