Police arrest three people after man had his ear bitten off in north Belfast assault

DETECTIVES have arrested two men and one woman after a man had his ear bitten off in a vicious assault in north Belfast.

Police say the attack happened in the Waterworks area of Antrim Road just before 10am on Wednesday.

The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.

The arrested trio, two men aged 23 and 24 and a woman, aged 26, were detained following the assault and taken into custody.

Investigations by detectives are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Antrim Road CID on 0845 600 8000.

Following further investigations, a police spokesperson said they were no longer treating the incident as a sectarian hate crime.