Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a potential Islamist terrorist link to a stabbing in Belfast earlier this month. Religious ideology is one of a number of potential motives being investigated, the PA news agency understands.

PSNI detectives investigating a South Belfast stabbing believe the incident may have been an Islamist terror attack. Specialist officers are probing the attack, which happened on the evening of March 1,

In a statement issued on Friday, the PSNI said that detectives from the Serious Crime Branch “continue to investigate the circumstances of a stabbing which took place close to the Ormeau Road area of Belfast around 7.35pm on Saturday, 1 March”.

Police are investigating what is understood to be a possible Islamic terrorist motivation for a stabbing in south Belfast earlier this month. A 51-year-old man was injured in the attack close to the Ormeau Road area on 1 March.