NEIGHBOURS have told how the body of a young man may have lain undiscovered on a north Belfast street for up to two hours.
The victim, who is understood to be in his 20s and from Lithuania, was discovered outside a property in Orient Gardens, off the Cliftonville Road, on Wednesday night.
It is understood he was found by two people who were driving past.
It remained unclear last night how the man died but reports suggested he may have crawled from a flat where he was staying nearby.
A pool of blood could still be seen on the ground outside the property yesterday.
Police investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death arrested two men, aged 26 and 28, on suspicion of murder.
They were released on bail last night.
Residents reacted with shock to news of the death as police forensic officers continued to carry out examinations at the scene throughout much of the day.
One woman told The Irish News: "My husband had been out washing the cars and went to put them in around the back about half nine when he saw there a bit of a commotion.
"Then an ambulance came flying past and stopped outside the house.
"The body was lying on the ground.
"Someone said the man had crawled out of the flat, it's just terrible."
Another neighbour said "apparently he was on the ground for a couple of hours before someone found him", while another woman said while she didn't know the deceased man, she was "heartbroken" for his family.
"This is a quiet street, I know a lot of my neighbours," she said.
"But there's lots of people renting about here that you wouldn't know. I feel heartbroken for the poor man's family."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said it was understood a neighbour had discovered the man's body and he believed police were close to identifying the victim.
"News of this death has shocked the local area," he said.
"While the circumstances of the man's death are unclear at this time, the PSNI have stated that they are treating the death as murder.
"I would appeal to anyone with information which may assist the police to bring it forward."
SDLP assembly member Nichola Mallon said: "There is real shock and sadness across north Belfast following the death of a man here. I understand that the police have now opened an investigation.
"The thoughts of all of us in the SDLP are with his family at this difficult time.
"Anyone with any information should contact the police urgently."
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan appealed to anyone who was in the area of Orient Gardens on Wednesday between 7pm and 10pm to contact officers.
