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Murder investigation launched over pensioner's death

A murder investigation has been launched after a pensioner died in a flat following a serious assault in Dungannon, County Tyrone, on Thursday.

The victim, aged in his 70s, was found with serious injuries at a property in the Corrainey Park area of the town at about 20:00 GMT.

Emergency services had been called to the Lisnahull Estate but the man died at the scene.

In an update on Friday afternoon, police said no arrests have been made so far.

'Senseless attack'

Supt Peter Stevenson addressed the media on Friday afternoon

Supt Peter Stevenson said the man "was found seriously injured on the living room floor of the property".

"The man was a resident in the area for more than 20 years," he added.

"Officers are at the scene today and are working to establish the full circumstances that led to this senseless attack."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) remain at the scene but the police cordon has been shortened to let residents in and out of the Lisnahull estate on the edge of Dungannon town centre.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a call at 20:13 GMT and despatched one rapid response paramedic, two emergency crews and an advanced paramedic.

'Shocked'

A police officer is standing with his back to the camera. It's night. He's standing next to an emergency car. There's a tape cordoning off the area.
Police officers were at the scene on Thursday and a large area had been cordoned off

SDLP councillor Karol McQuade said: "The public are concerned that this has taken place in their town, nobody expects something like this to happen on their doorsteps, but I have spoken to police and would urge people to remain calm.

"I would also ask people to remember there is a grieving family at the centre of this, and not to share rumours or videos on social media and to give the police space to carry out their investigations.

"Anyone with any information should come forward to the PSNI."

Independent councillor Barry Monteith said people's thoughts are with the man who lost his life and "all those who loved him".

He also urged people to be cautious about repeating things they hear about the killing.

"There are a number of different rumours and things going round online and I just urged people to be careful what you share," he said.

'Very concerned'

Deirdre has blond shoulder length hair, gold hoop earrings and a pink scarf and cream coat. She is standing in front of of a police cordon. The houses behind are blurred out.
Councillor Deirdre Varsani encouraged local people to "stick to basic facts" when sharing information

Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Varsani said locals are "very concerned" by the news.

"Generally people get upset and unnerved when there are incidents close to their homes," she told BBC News NI.

She urged members of the public to avoid "unhelpful" commentary and to "stick to the basic facts".

"We are aware of instances on social media, even last night, there were names being bandied about and they were not the correct names," she said.

"That is just extremely worrying behaviour because that just adds to the difficulties of these challenging situations."

At the scene: Niall McCracken, BBC News NI Mid-Ulster reporter

A small brown and white dog sniffing the ground next to a fence outside a house. A man stands on the grass looking at the ground. Two people are walking past, one of them wearing a forensic suit. Down the street a police car is parked on the side of the road. The street is covered in police tape.
A sniffer dog was brought to the scene on Friday afternoon

There were several police cars, two ambulances and a couple of rapid response vehicles surrounding flats at the edge of the estate of Lisnahull at about 21:30 on Thursday.

Residents from the surrounding houses stood outside their front doors as flashing police lights bounced off the front windows of their homes.

On Friday morning, a cordon remained around the block of flats.

Families and school buses were passing by the crime scene, with many local residents still waiting for answers around what happened .

A number of officers were making door-to-door inquiries and were appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Pacemaker A police car parked on a road in front of a property. There is police tape in front of the property and a blue sky in the background.Pacemaker
Police remain at the scene of the incident