‘Absolutely shocking’: Baby threatened with broken glass during shocking city centre hijacking

Detectives in Belfast are appealing for information following a terrifying hijacking incident in which a baby was threatened in the city centre in the early hours of Saturday morning, 25th October.

According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the incident unfolded at around 3.50am in the Donegall Place area, when a delivery driver had exited his vehicle — a white Vauxhall Agila — leaving his partner and her young baby inside.

Threat made against baby

Detective Sergeant McVeagh said:

“It was reported that a delivery driver had exited his vehicle, a white Vauxhall Agila, in the Donegall Place area at around 3.50am, leaving his partner and her young baby in the rear.

“Two men approached the car on foot, before one got into the driver’s seat and drove the vehicle away. The second man appeared to try to stop him, but was unsuccessful.

“A short distance away, close to Fountain Lane, the man turned and held what the woman believed to be a broken bottle or piece of broken glass to the head of the young baby and told her to get out of the car.”

The woman and her baby managed to escape unharmed, but were left deeply shaken by the ordeal. The suspect then drove the car towards City Hall and onto Chichester Street before it was later found abandoned in Upper Stanfield Street.

Police describe incident as “absolutely shocking”

Detective Sergeant McVeagh continued:

“This was an absolutely shocking incident, and an extremely distressing ordeal for the victims. They have been left shaken, but thankfully otherwise uninjured.

“Our enquiries are ongoing.

“We would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious, or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 211 25/10/25.

“Alternatively, you can submit a report online at psni.police.uk/makeareport or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Appeal for witnesses

Police have urged anyone who may have seen the white Vauxhall Agila being driven between Donegall Place and Upper Stanfield Street around the time of the incident to come forward.

The PSNI has described the incident as an “extremely distressing ordeal” and is prioritising the investigation. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and are appealing for dashcam recordings from drivers who may have been passing through the city centre around the time.