Two men in their 20s remain in custody on suspicion of attempted murder following a stabbing in the Fitzroy Avenue area of south Belfast on the evening of 12 August 2026. A heavy police presence descended on the street and a stretch of road was cordoned off as officers responded to the incident.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed it received an emergency call at approximately 19:28 BST, dispatching a rapid response paramedic alongside a full ambulance crew to the location.
Detailing the victim's injuries, Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Inspector Harvey said the man had suffered several wounds.
The victim sustained multiple puncture wounds to his chest and neck and was bleeding from his left ear.
Medical staff do not consider the injuries life-threatening, and the man is currently being treated in hospital.
What are the men accused of?
One of the arrested men faces a single charge of suspicion of attempted murder. The second man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as well as possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and theft.
According to Belfast Live, both suspects were still being held on Thursday morning as detectives continued their inquiries into the attack.
Has there been similar violence elsewhere in Belfast recently?
This stabbing follows a series of knife-related incidents across the city in recent months. Earlier in 2026, a man in his 40s was seriously hurt in a north Belfast knife attack that led to a 30-year-old being charged with attempted murder, while another assault in the same part of the city resulted in a man being hospitalised with serious injuries after a stabbing on Kinnaird Avenue. A separate case saw two men charged over a stabbing at Fortwilliam Park, and just this week three men were arrested over an attempted murder investigation in north Belfast after an assault inside Eithne House.
What happens next?
Police have said their investigation into the Fitzroy Avenue stabbing is ongoing, with both men still detained as enquiries progress, per Belfast Live. Officers have renewed an appeal for witnesses, citing reference number 1431 of 12/08/26, and are asking anyone with information to come forward via the PSNI's online witness appeal form, by calling 101, or by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Key Facts
- Stabbing occurred in the Fitzroy Avenue area of south Belfast on 12 August 2026.
- Ambulance service received the 999 call at about 19:28 BST.
- Victim suffered multiple puncture wounds to the chest and neck and bleeding from the left ear; injuries not believed life-threatening.
- Two men in their 20s arrested — one on suspicion of attempted murder, the other also facing weapon possession and theft charges.
- Both suspects remain in custody as police continue their investigation and renew a witness appeal under reference 1431 of 12/08/26.
