Three people have been stabbed in South Belfast

Three people have been stabbed in South Belfast in the last 24 hours.

The three separate incidents all took place near Queen’s University Belfast, where the PSNI are still hunting down the attacker.

The victims, all of which were women, were stabbed within a two hour period on Monday evening.

The first incident took place last night at 20:10 on Ormeau Avenue, before the next at 21:00 on Donegall Square West and the third at 21:30 on University Road.

BBC News Northern Ireland also reported an assault on a female victim who was punched in the neck as she was walking along Dunluce Avenue near the Queen’s University Belfast Medicine School, at approximately 20:50 on the same evening.

Another woman was attacked in a similar fashion, the location of the attack is however unknown.

In a statement, the PSNI said that none of the injuries sustained by the victims are life threatening but that the victims it has been a “hugely traumatic experience”.

The suspect is believed to be a male, who was on a bike, wearing dark clothing, possibly a hooded top and was possibly masked according to the PSNI.

Chief Superintendent  Simon Walls said police are “taking this investigation incredibly seriously.

He said that: “We accept the fear that this type of incident causes, however we wish to say that incidents like this in Belfast and across Northern Ireland are indeed rare”.

Patrolling reinforcements have been drafted in following the incidents, with Walls remarking: “You will see in Belfast today, in the city centre and towards the university area an enhanced police footprint that will remain in place throughout the evening.”

Condemning the attacks, South Belfast SDLP MP Clare Hanna described the attacks as “horrific”.

She added that, “No one should have to feel anxious on our local streets”. The Member of Parliament who has been in office since December 2019 is currently working on a bill with Walthamstow Labour Party MP Stella Creasy to make misogyny a hate crime and described that these incidents “underline that need”.

The victims are all aged between 19 and 22 but it has not yet been confirmed if they are students at either Ulster University or Queen’s University Belfast.

The PSNI Investigation is ongoing, and they are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and report their evidence to the Lisburn Road branch using the 101 phone number.