Belfast shop worker threatened with acid attack

A shop worker has been threatened with an acid attack by a man with a bottle of clear liquid during an attempted robbery in north Belfast.

The woman was ordered to open the till during the incident on the Oldpark Road at about 7.15pm on Saturday.

The would-be robber told her he would throw acid over her if she refused.

But the shop worker raised the alarm and the assailant made off empty-handed, in the direction of Oldpark Avenue.

Local Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee said: “I have been speaking to the shop staff and this was an extremely worrying incident and undoubtedly traumatic for the shop assistant who was threatened.

“Obviously this attempted robbery is to be condemned and I would urge anyone with information about the assailant to bring it to the PSNI.”

Detectives are investigating and have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

The man in question is described as being around the age of 30, 5ft 10ins tall and of medium build, with dirty fair hair and an Irish accent.

He was wearing a black hooded jacket, grey track bottoms, black trainers with white soles, and had a scarf partially covering his face.