Man Apprehended After Throwing Broken Glass at Shop Staff

An individual has been taken into custody following an incident in which fragments of shattered glass were directed at employees of a retail establishment in south Belfast. Police reported receiving an alert at 14:15 GMT on Wednesday concerning a man in the Lombard Street area who had entered a shop and attempted to sell a mobile phone suspected of being stolen. The suspect reportedly became aggressive after the proposed transaction was declined. Upon being asked to leave, he proceeded to break the glass panel of the shop’s door before hurling pieces of the glass at staff members as he tried to re-enter the premises. A 31-year-old man was subsequently arrested a short time later. He faces suspicion of theft, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, and grievous bodily harm with intent. One staff member sustained injuries as a result of the thrown glass. While being transported to a detention facility, the man’s aggressive behavior reportedly resumed. Police stated that he assaulted an officer and attempted to bite them. The suspect is also alleged to have spat on an officer.