Life threatening injuries were suffered by the victim of an early evening assault close to a former homeless drop-in centre in west Belfast.
The man in his 30s was rushed to hospital following the assault on Townsend Street shortly after 7pm on Wednesday.
A 27-year-old man was arrested and continued to be questioned by police on Thursday afternoon. He was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and for CCTV or other footage. Townsend Road runs between the Lower Falls and the Shankill.
However, there are no residential properties front facing on to the street, which is occupied by the headquarters of homeless charity Welcome, Townsend Enterprise Park and the former Townsend Street Presbyterian Church, now housing the Ulster Orchestra.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “We received a report shortly after 7pm that a man, aged in his 30s, was assaulted in the Townsend Street area.
“Officers attended the scene alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and he was taken to hospital for treatment to life-threatening injuries.
“A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He remains in police custody at this time.”
It is understood the assault happened close to the Welcome building, which closed as a homeless drop in centre in early August. This followed a car ramming and arson attack on the building, which still accommodates administrative staff.
Welcome’s chair, Jude Whyte, said following the closure: “For our mistakes, I’m sorry to the community but their stress is over.”
“Essentially, regardless of how many cars were driven through our door, if that community had supported us, we would still be there, and they don’t. They are at the end of their tether, and I totally understand that.
“We are now urgently looking for a day facility which is going to offend nobody. That is Welcome’s big challenge now,.”