Northern Ireland

Sword used in two Co Down robbery bids

<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 18 and 20, on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery</span>
Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 18 and 20, on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 18 and 20, on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery

A sword was used in two late night robbery bids in Co Down, police have said.

Shortly before 10.20pm on Monday a man brandishing a sword entered a food outlet on Commons Road in Ballykinler and threatened staff.

He was chased by staff and made off empty-handed.

Less than an hour later a man carrying a sword held up a service station on the Newcastle Road in Castlewellan, threatening staff before making off with a number of scratch cards.

Ten minutes before this incident, police received a report of a male acting suspiciously close to an off-sales in the Lower Square in Castlewellan.

Police have arrested a 23-year-old woman and two men, aged 18 and 20, on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery.

Detectives have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.