Couple Abducted In North Belfast

A Belfast couple have been left shaken after they were abducted from their home on Sunday evening.

Police have condemned the incident as a "despicable, vicious and prolonged" attack, which saw the pair bundled into separate vehicles and abandoned in the Ardoyne area.

The ordeal began at around 9.30pm on Sunday evening, 15 December, when four masked people forced their way into a house in Landsdowne Road, north Belfast, and attacked the two occupants. The suspects, who are believed to have been armed with a knife and handgun, spent some time ransacking the property and assaulted a male occupant.

The man was then forced into a white Ford transit van and the woman into a red Mercedes SUV. They were both driven around for a period of time before the vehicles were left parked up in the Ardoyne area.

Detective Inspector Michael McDonnell said: "At this point, the male victim was able to free himself and raise the alarm. The female occupant of the other vehicle was subsequently located and freed. She was understandably terrified, but physically unharmed."

Anyone who lives in or frequents the Landsdowne Road area is urged to consider whether they have seen people or vehicles acting suspiciously in recent days in weeks.

Detective Inspector McDonnell added: "In particular, I am appealing to anyone in the area with CCTV, or indeed anyone with a dashcam who was driving in the area from 9pm through to 11.30pm on Sunday 15th December, to review their footage and contact Detectives at Musgrave quoting reference number 2004 15/12/19."

Alternatively, information can be provided in confidence via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.



(JG/MH)