Man arrested after police stand-off, reported assault and damaged cars

A 42-year-old man has been arrested after a reported assault and two hour stand-off in north Belfast, during which seven cars were damaged and an officer was injured.

Police received a report shortly after 00:00 BST on Tuesday that a woman had been assaulted at a house on Lepper Street.

After police officers, an Armed Response Unit and a trained negotiator were sent to the scene, the man was detained at about 02:20.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and assault on police.

The man remains in custody.

When officers arrived at the scene they spoke to a woman and another man, both of them had facial injuries.

The suspect was found in a wardrobe in the property. He threatened officers with a knife which forced them to withdraw to protect the other man and woman.

An Armed Response Unit was sent to the scene and the suspect then climbed onto the roof.

He threw the knife at officers, and then started to remove and throw roof tiles in their direction.

An incapacitant spray was used to subdue the man but he continued to throw the tiles, which resulted in an officer being taken to hospital with a suspected fractured arm.

With the help of a trained negotiator the man was brought down from the roof and was arrested.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said "considerable damage" was caused to the property and seven vehicles were "substantially damaged".

Five of the vehicles belonged to the police and two are owned by uninvolved members of the public.

A police investigation is underway and enquiries continue in the area on Tuesday.

PSNI Insp Knowles said the man's actions "placed officers and nearby members of the public at risk".

"There was the potential to cause life-changing or even fatal injury to those present," he added.

Police are appealing for anyone with footage or information to come forward.