Woman's Mugging Blights City Centre

Belfast city centre's image has again been blighted by a violent incident with news today of a woman being mugged yesterday by two thieves.

The PSNI said that she was approached by the two men at the junction of Lombard Street and Rosemary Street. It happened in daylight hours at around 2.30pm on Monday.

They threatened her and forced her to hand over a sum of money, before making off.

Now, the police have asked anyone with information on the attack to come forward.

Last month, a 24-year-old old man was stabbed in the neck and hands in Belfast city centre, in Skipper Street.

That was not the first such incident either, as, in February this year, an 18-year-old man was stabbed several times in the back in Belfast city centre during a robbery in which his 15-year-old female friend was sprayed in the face.

The assault happened in Music Hall Lane shortly before 8pm. Two male youths in their mid-teens attacked the pair before making off with their mobile phone.

Riots In Focus

In court news, a 19-year-old man will appear this morning charged in connection with rioting in Ardoyne in north Belfast, last month.

Petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police during the trouble when violence flared following an otherwise peaceful Twelfth of July Orange Order parade.

The as yet-unnamed teenager is accused of riotous assembly and possession of petrol bombs.

Elsewhere, and a 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of raping a woman in Ballykinler, Co Down, has been released on bail.

A PSNI spokesperson said the arrest was connected to an attack in the Commons Road area.

It is alleged to have happened at a derelict school in the village and was reported to police at about 1am on Monday.

The police are continuing their investigations at the scene close to the scenic Tyrella beach near the substantial Army camp at Ballkinler base.

See: Arrest Follows Latest Belfast Stabbing

(BMcC/GK)