06/05/2014

Polish Residents Attacked In Latest Hate Crime

Two Polish residents of east Belfast have become the latest victims of a spate of racist hate crimes in the city, after the living room window of their house on Templemore Avenue was smashed at 23:30 on Monday night.

A man in his 20s and a woman in her 40s were in the house at the time.

The incident follows similar attacks on homes on Roslyn Street, which were vandalised with graffiti saying 'locals only'.

The PSNI has blamed the recent upsurge in racist hate crimes on the Ulster Volunteer Force.

South Belfast Alliance MLA Anna Lo said: "I absolutely condemn these attacks. Everyone has a right to live in peace in their own homes and I am disgusted at those behind these incidents.

"The local community at large do not support this kind of behaviour and I would appeal to anyone with information to get in touch with the PSNI as soon as possible.

"This is a worrying trend and as Chair of the Assembly All Party Group on Ethnic Minorities I have invited the PSNI to come to our next meeting to outline the work of their special task force recently set-up to tackle race hate crime."

Sinn Féin East Belfast Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "This weekend we have seen more attacks on Polish families in East Belfast. This has to be condemned by all right-thinking people in our community.

"My immediate thoughts are with those families immediately affected. They have arrived to our city no doubt with the hope of a better life and have found themselves attacked by mindless racists motivated only by hate.

"I would call on anyone who has any information about these attacks to pass the information on immediately to the police."

(IT/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 October 2023
New Campaign Launches To Highlight 'Devastating Impact' Of Hate Crimes
A new campaign has been launched a new campaign to highlight the devastating impact that hate crime has on victims and to encourage everyone to report hate crime when they see it.
19 October 2023
PSNI Hosts Hate Crime Awareness Event In Moira
The PSNI have partnered with Lisburn and Castlereagh Policing Community Safety Partnership for a public meeting on Hate Crime Awareness public meeting in Moira.
28 February 2020
Justice Minister Encourages Reports Of Online Hate Crime
Justice Minister Naomi Long is urging victims of online hate crimes to file a report to police to allow them to get the support they need. Ms Long encouraged members of the public to "call it out" and help police catch online perpetrators at an Online Hate Crime Event at Belfast City Hall.
13 August 2019
Armagh House Attacked In Racist Hate Crime
The home of a Syrian family living in Armagh has been attacked for the second time in as many days in what police are treating as a racially motivated hate crime. Windows were smashed at the property in Alexander Avenue at around 1.40am on Monday morning, 12 August. Just over a day earlier, graffiti was spray painted over the house.
10 October 2022
Campaign Announced To Highlight 'Extent And Impact' Of Hate Crimes
The PSNI has announced a week of action to "highlight the extent and impact" of hate crime across Northern Ireland and will be out engaging with local communities encouraging all to embrace diversity during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, 8-15th October 2022.