Man in his 20s is found with his hands nailed to a fence in 'sinister attack' which also saw two vans set on fire

A man in his 20s has been found with his hands nailed to a fence in a 'sinister attack' which also saw two vans set on ablaze.

He was left with potentially life-changing injuries after the attack in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has described the incident in Bushmills in the early hours of Sunday as 'sinister' and 'brutal'.

Police received a report shortly after midnight that a man, aged in his 20s, had been found with his hands nailed to a fence, with one nail through each hand.

The man also had injuries to his nose.

He was taken to hospital, where his condition on Sunday morning was described as not life threatening.

Police who attended the incident said two vans parked in the public car park near Dundarave Park had been set on fire. One of the vehicles belonged to the man who had been assaulted. 

Firefighters attended to extinguish the fires and both vans sustained extensive damage.

Officers said graffiti found on a nearby gable wall of a public toilets building was being linked to the assault and arson.

In a statement, the PSNI said: 'This was a sinister attack which has left this man with potentially life-changing injuries.

'Everyone has the right to live their life free from the threat of violence and this brutal attack by people who violate the human rights of others must be universally condemned.

'We live in a democratic society where there is no justification for this. Those responsible brutalise their own communities and control others through intimidation and violence.

'This happened in a residential area with a number of holiday lets which would be busy during this bank holiday weekend and we are asking anyone who noticed anything or who may have dashcam footage to contact us urgently on 101 or confidently to Crimestoppers.'