A man who was found with serious injuries in west Belfast has died in hospital, prompting a murder investigation by the police. The incident took place on Wednesday at around 8 pm GMT in Cupar Street, off the Springfield Road. Officers announced that they were at the scene of a serious assault, and cordons have been placed in the area. A 35-year-old man has been arrested and remains in custody on suspicion of murder. The police are continuing to investigate at the scene.
The identity of the victim has not been released by the authorities. In response to the incident, Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey urged the local community to remain calm and assist with the police investigation. In a tweet, Maskey described the incident as “shocking” and noted that the victim’s family and friends would be impacted by the tragedy.
Homicides have continued to be a problem in Northern Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has reported a rise in violent crime over the past few years, with over 16,000 sexual and violent offences recorded in 2019. The total number of homicides in the region in 2020 was 16, with 10 of these being murders. However, the 2021 homicide rate dropped considerably, with only 6 recorded up to June.
The PSNI notes concern regarding “drug misuse, domestic abuse and mental health issues” in the latest Trends in Crime report. The report also highlights the impact of the pandemic on crime rates. Domestic abuse rose by around 2,000 incidents during the height of the pandemic in April 2020. The PSNI is working to mitigate these issues with increased focus on drug enforcement and awareness raising campaigns
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