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Pensioner attack 'murder attempt' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Police are treating as attempted murder an assault which left a 70-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital. | |
He was found by a member of the public in an alleyway at Churchill Park in the Garvaghy Road area of Portadown at about 1700 GMT on Thursday. | |
He was taken to nearby Craigavon Area Hospital, but was later transferred by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. | He was taken to nearby Craigavon Area Hospital, but was later transferred by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. |
A man has been arrested, and police have appealed for information. | |
Detectives say they are keeping an open mind about what motivated the assault, although they do not believe the attack was sectarian. | |
Chief Superintendent Alan Todd said it was "a vicious attack". | |
"Given the extent of the victim's injuries, police are treating this as attempted murder," he said. | |
"The attack happened at five o'clock last night and although it was dark, there were plenty of people about." | |
Sinn Fein assembly member John O'Dowd said the local community was in shock. | |
"While there has been difficulties in this area with anti-social behaviour, an attack of this nature is unheard of, particularly with such an elderly gentleman," he said. |