Woman attacked with drill in potentially homophobic assault
A woman has been assaulted with a drill after a potentially homophobic attack in Northern Ireland.
A teenage boy was arrested after a 38-year-old woman suffered a "very serious" head injury, police said.
The victim is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after the attack in County Tyrone.
Detectives are questioning a 17 year old male after a woman (38) was attacked with a drill in Strabane early this morning. The victim sustained a very serious head injury and is understood to be in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Police continue to examine the scene.
-- PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) May 5, 2018
A 17-year-old boy is being questioned after the incident at around 2am on Saturday morning in Railway Street in Strabane.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Sergeant Brian Reid said they are looking into the possibility that the attack was homophobic and appealed to anyone with footage of a male with a cordless drill in the area at the time to contact them.
He said: "This was a brutal attack and the injuries sustained by the victim are extremely grave.
"We are exploring a possible homophobic motive for the crime and we are appealing for witnesses to get in touch with us.
"We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a male carrying a drill in the area at around the time of the assault and we would especially like to speak to anyone who may have captured footage, either on mobile phone or dashcam."
Officers are continuing to examine the scene and anyone with information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
