Man appears at court after two women stabbed in Downpatrick

BBC Uniformed police officers and forensic investigators wearing white protective suits stand outside a house in Stream Street, Downpatrick. The house is a semi-detached or end-of-terrace bungalow. There are trees behind the houses and church with a tall spire in the distance. A liveried blue and yellow police car is parked outside the house and other vehicles are parked in the street.BBC
Police and forensic investigators examined the scene of the attack at a house in Stream Street, Downpatrick

A 26 year-old man has appeared at court charged with attempted murder after two women were stabbed in Downpatrick, County Down.

Jason Rhodes, with an address at Stream Street in Downpatrick, appeared at Belfast Magistrates court on Saturday.

Police received a report that a man, armed with two knives, was attacking two women at a house on Stream Street at 08:30 GMT on Friday.

A 35 year-old woman suffered a serious knife wound to her neck and lacerations to her head and face. A woman in her 50s suffered stab wounds.

The women were taken to hospital with serious injuries but they are not believed to be life-threatening, police said.

He is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, possessing class A and B drugs and assaulting a police officer.

Mr Rhodes confirmed in court that he understood the charges and no application for bail was made.

He will remain in custody and appear at court on 10 April.