Arrest after stabbing victim dies

Police were attacked by stonethrowers

A 33-year-old man found stabbed in Belfast city centre has died in hospital, police have said.

The man was found unconscious in Cromac Street after a fight broke out in a bar in May Street on Sunday.

He was Robert McCartney from the Short Strand area of east Belfast. One man has been arrested.

The police have launched a murder investigation. Another man, 31, was also taken to hospital with a stab wound.

However, his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

It is understood the fight broke out at about 2300 GMT. Police are appealing for information.

Police carrying out searches in the Markets area of Belfast in connection with the fatal stabbing have been attacked by stonethrowers.

Earlier on Monday, the police pulled out of a search operation in Friendly Place after they were stoned by youths. Officers in riot gear returned later in the evening and were also attacked.

Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said: "It appears the PSNI is using last night's tragic stabbing incident as an excuse to disrupt life within this community, and the scale and approach of their operation is completely unacceptable and unjustifiable."