Q Newsdesk
A man's has been left with potentially life-changing injuries after being been beaten in the head with a pistol during a burglary in East Belfast.
Two men broke into the victim's house in the Gibson Park Gardens area at around 8.30 last night.
The intruders ransacked the house before making off with cash.
Police have described it as a "brutal, vicious attack".
Detectives are appealing for witnesses following report of an aggravated burglary in the Gibson Park Gardens area, 8.30pm last night. Homeowner assaulted around the head with a pistol. If you have any information, call detectives on 101, reference 1254 7/12/18.
— PSNI East Belfast (@PSNIBelfastE) 8 December 2018
Detective Sergeant Corrigan said:
"They punched the man and assaulted him around the head with a pistol before attempting to place cable ties on his wrists."
"He sustained a number of facial injuries, including one black eye."
"He had deep cuts close to his other eye where his glasses were smashed into his face and he was also kicked in the chest."
"The victim, who lost quite a lot of blood in the attack, managed to flee the scene while the two men were still in the house and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment."
"One of the two attackers is described as being 6’ tall, with a shaved head and wearing a hi-vis coat."
"The other was slightly taller with short, ginger hair."
Here's local councillor George Dorrian: