Updated 6.30pm

POLICE IN BELFAST are treating the death of a man in the early hours of this morning as a murder.

An investigation was launched following the discovery of a body on Botanic Avenue, in the south of the city, just after 5am. Two knives were discovered at the scene.

This evening, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell from the PSNI Serious Crime Branch said that the body was found after a call from a member of the public to police at 5am.

The caller said that the man was lying on the road in Botanic Avenue with a number of injuries.

“A short time later a man in his 30s was arrested by police in the immediate area. He has been taken into custody and will be interviewed later today,” he said.

Both men are foreign nationals. The suspect is believed to be of African descent. The victim’s nationality is still being confirmed. However, initial enquiries suggest he may be a Pakistani national.

The victim had been stabbed a number of times and he died at the scene as a result of his injuries. We are following a number of lines of enquiry but we are keeping an open mind about a possible motive.

The two knives recovered from the scene are currently being examined as part of the investigation.

A second scene has been established in a flat at 18 India Street, a short distance from where the victim was found.

Police appeal

People are appealing to anyone who was in the area at around 5am today to contact them. They would also like to hear from anyone who thinks they might know either the suspect or the victim.

Detectives can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101, or people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Botanic Avenue was closed for a time, but has since reopened.

- Additional reporting Aoife Barry

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