A Polish man found dead at a flat in north Belfast may have been the victim of a violent attack, shocked neighbours have claimed.

The 29-year-old man’s body was discovered at the ground floor flat on the Cliftonville Road around 7.30 on Saturday evening.

A PSNI spokesperson said the circumstances of the man's death had not yet been established, however neighbours said the victim may have been stabbed. Police had begun conducting house-to-house inquiries yesterday morning and forensic officers were seen entering the property.

The area around the front of the flat and an alleyway at the rear were both sealed off, while police Land Rovers secured the scene.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out to try to establish the cause of death.

One eyewitness, who lives opposite the scene, claimed that there had been a disagreement with two other men prior to the incident.

“Two men came to the flat, one kicked in the front door and they both went inside,” he said.

“There seemed to have been a fight, the two men left and I thought nothing more of it.

“Then someone looked inside and came out shouting that a man had been stabbed. The police were called and within minutes the cops were all over the place.

“The man was taken out in a body bag.”

Another neighbour said he knew the victim, adding: “I knew of him, I would have seen him around the place from time to time.

“There is quite a few Polish people around here but they tend to keep themselves to themselves.”

Jerome Mullen, the Honorary Polish Consul for Northern Ireland, said he believed the dead man had been living with his wife and son.

“This is shocking and tragic news, particularly as this man is so far from home,” he said.

“I understand this man also has family back in Poland and those people have my thoughts and sympathy.”

North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness said his thoughts were with the man’s family.

“This is an appalling tragedy and everyone feels for this man’s family, particularly his relatives back in Poland,” he said.