Officer suffers facial injuries following headbutt

A police officer sustained a facial injury after he was headbutted and kicked during the arrest of a man in Londonderry.

The PSNI have appealed for information about the incident in a flat in the city on Saturday evening.

Superintendent Sinead McIldowney said: “At approximately 10.40pm, officers responded to a report of a disturbance at a flat.

“Officers, including colleagues from our armed response unit, attended the scene and arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of a number of offences including possession of an offensive weapon, threats to kill and possession of a Class A controlled drug.

“Two knives and a quantity of suspected Class A controlled drugs were also recovered from the premises following a search and will now undergo forensic examination.

“As the suspect was in a police vehicle having his seatbelt applied he headbutted an officer to his eye – causing bruising and swelling – and went on to kick the officer multiple times.”

Ms McIldowney said the officer remained on duty but sustained a “significant facial injury”.

The suspect was further arrested on suspicion of assault on police.

Ms McIldowney said: “Our officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe.

“They do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job, and this incident is a stark reminder of the dangers they can face.

“The officer is receiving welfare support and, despite this distressing experience, felt able to remain on duty to protect the public.”

Police later said a 44-year-old man has been charged with threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, assault on police, and possession of a Class A controlled drug.

He will appear before Londonderry Magistrates’ Court on Monday.