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A man has been stabbed near Belfast Christmas market this evening.

The victim, believed to be in his 40s, was rushed to hospital after emergency crews raced to the popular market at around 8pm.

Police have shut off Donegall Square in north Belfast and a number of market stalls were forced to close while officers carry out investigations.

Eyewitness Adrian Huston was shopping with his wife, Felicity, when they spotted a man who appeared to be in a distressed state.

Mr Huston told Belfast Live: "We were walking near the market stalls outside City Hall and we saw a man standing, leaning the railings with his head drooped to his chest.

"From what we could see he was a very bad colour, very gray.

"He was just standing there very still and there was a steward from the market standing with him talking to him.

"We couldn't see that he was injured but he seemed to be in a bad way.

"Initially we thought he'd maybe been having a seizure but now we've been told this poor man was the victim of a stabbing.

"When we saw him there was no blood around him on the ground and he hadn't been sick, then as we walked closer three other stewards were racing towards him to help so it looked pretty serious.

"He just looked like a regular sort of guy. He was dressed in a light coloured top and was wrapped up against the cold.

"There was a woman near him asking the stewards if he was OK but he didn't appear to be with him, just concerned about him. It looks like he'd been on his own.

"The place was very noisy and busy. Five minutes before we saw this man there were drummers finishing up their show at the front gates."

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Police are currently in attendance at an incident in the Donegall Square North area of Belfast.

"A man who has received a stab wound has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries."

Inspector Duncan McBain said: "Police are working to establish where this assault has occurred and I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this to contact detectives at Musgrave police station on the non emergency number 101 quoting 1155 of 21/12."

The man's condition is unknown at this stage.

Twitter user Neal tweeted: "Night out to the Christmas market and some bloke starts stabbing lads... Belfast is the place to be this year."

Lauren Martin wrote: "Walking through Belfast to see the Christmas market surrounded & cordoned off by police & someone behind me mentions Berlin."

A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a call at 7.45pm.

City councillor Guy Spence wrote: "Hearing there's been a stabbing at our Christmas Market in Belfast. Liaising with PSNI in City Hall, no justification for this heinous act."