Apartment block evacuated by police after two people found dead

Several nearby homes had to be evacuated amid a major police operation.

Two people have been found dead in a flat in Belfast in what locals reported to be stabbing incident.

The bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in the apartment in the Kinnaird Close area, Belfast, on Monday afternoon.

Several nearby homes had also been evacuated amid a major police operation in the area.

Police have confirmed that two people were found dead but have not confirmed any further details, insisting the investigation was at an extremely early stage.

Councillor Paul McCusker said he believed police had been pursuing one male in connection with the deaths.

He said: ‘Just a few days before Christmas this is the worst kind of news for any family.

‘Within the local community there is anger and sadness.’

Mr McCusker said the dead couple were both ‘characters’ and well known in the area.

He added: ‘A few days before Christmas this couple’s poor family will get this devastating and horrific news that they have died in such conditions.’

It is believed that children could have been in the area around the time of the incident due to the Christmas holidays.

Detectives investigating the deaths have arrested a 35-year-old man, police said.

He has been taken to Musgrave Police Station for questioning after the discovery of the bodies.

Police forensic officers were examining the scene of the incident through Monday afternoon.

A PSNI helicopter was also circling above the area at intervals throughout the day.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery, said: ‘At around 12.55pm, police received a report from a member of the public that the bodies of two people had been discovered in a flat in the area.

‘The circumstances of the deaths will now be subject to investigation and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course.

‘At this stage it would not be appropriate to elaborate further on the circumstances as our inquiries are at an extremely early stage.’