A 26-year-old woman has been charged with a number of offences including grievous bodily harm, robbery and theft after a woman in her nineties in Belfast city centre during daylight hours.
Police last night described the incident as a "particularly callous robbery" after the pensioner was knocked to the ground and her handbag stolen.
PSNI Inspector Greg Dawson said: "This lady, who is aged in her 90s, had been in the Castle Lane area which was bustling with customers to its shops and cafes.
"But at around 4pm on Thursday, we received a report that she had become the victim of a frightening robbery.
"This lady was reportedly knocked to the ground by another woman and her handbag, which contained a sum of cash, stolen. The suspect then ran off with the stolen bag.
"Members of the public who had witnessed the incident stopped and offered kindness to the pensioner who was understandably left shaken by this ordeal.
"Police and emergency services attended and she was taken to hospital where she continues to receive treatment for her injuries."
The woman is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.
