A man being questioned on suspicion of the attempted murder of two women proclaimed his innocence in the dramatic moments as he was being led away in handcuffs by police, eyewitnesses said.
The two women stabbed at the house in Co Down remained in a serious condition in hospital late on Friday as police questioned the man in connection with the early morning attacks.
The 26-year-old is being detained on suspicion of attempted murder following the attacks that began inside a property close to the centre of Downpatrick on Friday.
Shortly after 8.30am, police received the 999 call reporting a man armed with two knives was attacking the women inside a property on Stream Street.
The 35-year-old woman and a mother of four, was further attacked outside in the back garden, sustaining a serious knife wound to the neck and lacerations to her head and face.
The other woman, in her 50s, was also stabbed, though is believed to be in a less serious condition.
Both were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where some members of what is a well known and large extended family in the Downpatrick area travelled to as word spread of the stabbings.
Neighbours reported hearing what was described as “squealing” from the back garden of the house just before 8.30am. Police arrived within minutes and were able to intervene and arrest the man.
One eyewitness described the moments as the man was led in handcuffs through the front garden of the small terraced cottage.
As he was led away handcuffed, he could be heard shouting: “I have not done anything, I have not done anything.”
A large team of at least eight forensic investigators remained at the scene of the double stabbing into late Friday afternoon, with much of the focus on the back garden.
Two people normally reside at the property, the woman in her 50s and her son. She has two other children.
It is understood the other victim was a relative of the other woman and visiting at the time of the attack.
One neighbour said she had left the house on a school run and to go to work before the attacks happened.
She only knew of the drama on her doorstep on returning in the afternoon to police officers on the street and the forensic team swarming the property.
The older victim was described as a “good, ordinary person” who would always stop for a chat on the street. She had lived in the house for the last approximately four years.
A neighbour said that while what was visited on the street was “shocking”, it was a relief to hear the injuries were not fatal.
“Thank God because this morning it did not look good,” the neighbour said.
PSNI Inspector Eamonn Campbell, speaking earlier on Friday, said the women’s injuries, while serious, “are not believed to be life threatening at this time”.
“The arrested man, 26, has been taken into police custody and will be questioned on suspicion of a number of offences including attempted murder,” Inspector Campbell said.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 8.48am following reports of an incident in the Stream Street area of the town. Both women were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath added described the incident as “disturbing” and one “that has caused much concern in the local community”
Cathy Mason, Sinn Fein South Down MLA, called the attack “disgraceful and horrendous.”
Alliance Party Councillor Cadogan Enright, who lives just 100 metres from where the stabbings happened, said he was in disbelief it happened to people who knows.