UPDATED
Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a man was stabbed to death in Derry during the early hours of this morning, Sunday 4 March.
The victim, who is understood to be 35 years old, was fatally injured during an altercation involving a number of men in Grafton Street, in the Rosemount area, at around 2.40am this morning.
Three men, aged 19, 20 and 27, have been arrested and are in police custody this morning assisting police with their enquiries.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Dickson from PSNI Major Investigation Team said: 'We are working to establish the circumstances of this incident and determine the precise sequence of events that culminated in the tragic death of this man.
I would appeal to anyone who was in the Grafton Street or Park Avenue areas of Derry this morning between 2.30am and 3am to please get in touch by calling 101, quoting reference number 243 04/03/18.'
Foyle MP Elisha McCallion said: 'There is shock in the Rosemount community and right across the city on hearing this sad news.
'I want to express my sympathies to the family of this young man and while details are still emerging of this tragic death I would urge anyone with any bit of information to bring that to the PSNI.'
Foyle MLA Mark Durkan conveyed his 'deepest sympathies' to the victim's family.
'A family were woken up to devastating news today,' he said. 'It is so sad. My heart goes out to them - our thoughts and prayers are with them all. Anyone who knows anything about this incident should pass on the information to the police.'
Rosemount councillor Darren O'Reilly said the community was in shock.
'Rosemount is a such a close, tight-knit community,' he said. 'The whole of the community will be terribly saddened by what has happened. It is awful for everyone, and the family of the poor man in particular, to be waking up to such tragic news.'
Councillor Michael Cooper said: 'It is awful news that a man's life has been lost as the result of an incident in the Rosemount area last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this most difficult and sad time.'
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