A HUNT was continuing on Thursday night for a 33-year-old man following an attack which left a young mother-of-two left critically ill in hospital.
The PSNI took the unusual step of releasing a photo of Stephen McFarlane and warning the public not to approach him.
Police want to speak to him after a 26-year-old woman was attacked at a house on Ashgrove Road in the Carnmoney area of Glengormley at about 8.35pm on Wednesday.
It is understood the woman lives in the house with her two young daughters, who were there during the attack.
She remained in a critical condition in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast on Thursday night.
Police warned people not to approach McFarlane but to contact officers "immediately".
A police spokesman appealed to anyone with information about McFarlane's whereabouts or who had seen a white Audi A6, registration T44 SMF, to contact detectives.
On Thursday the house at Ashgrove Road was sealed off as forensic investigators searched the property and police maintained a guard outside.
Several neighbours in the quiet street expressed their shock although many were unaware of what had happened.
One woman, whose daughter lives close by, said the woman had recently moved to the area.
"This is a very quiet area and nothing like this ever happens here," she said.
"Everyone is just very shocked about it all but nobody really knows what happened.
"Our thoughts are with the woman and her family at this time."
Alliance councillor John Blair, deputy mayor of Newtownabbey and Antrim council, said he was stunned by the attack.
"The people in the surrounding area are totally shocked by what had happened and all of them are thinking of the victim at this time," he said.
SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland said she hopes the woman makes a speedy recovery.
"I am stunned by this attack," she said "Everyone I have spoken to is shocked that this could happen, particularly in such a close-knit community."
North Belfast DUP MLA Paula Bradley, who lives close to where the attack happened, said she was appalled by the assault.
"My thoughts and prayers are with this young woman, and I hope that she will make a full recovery," she said.
"As a long-time campaigner for the protection of women from violence, I am particularly concerned by this attack. There can be no justification for this sort of crime and those responsible must be removed from our community."
