25/03/2019
Police Investigating Sectarian Attacks On Teenagers In North Belfast
Police have launched an investigation after two teenagers were assaulted in sectarian incidents in Belfast on Saturday night.
Both attacks, which occurred at around 10pm on 23 March, are being treated as hate crimes.
In the first assault, police said a 15-year-old boy was "doing nothing more than making his way home" on the OldPark Road, close to the junction with Rosapenna Street, when he was approached. Two males, both of whom were on bikes, directed sectarian comments toward the victim before assaulting him with metal bars. He was later taken to hospital for treatment.
The second incident occurred only 15 minutes later, when another 15-year-old male and a friend were making their way home along the Crumlin Road, close to Russell's shop, when they too were approached by two males on push bikes. Again, they were threatened and had sectarian comments directed at them. One of the culprits then punched the 15-year-old under his eye. The victim believes that he was struck with something metal. They struck him again before fleeing.
Police have since issued an appeal for anyone with information on the "disgusting" attack to come forward: "We want to catch these two and we need your help. We need to identify these two individuals who were using the push bikes in this area last night.
"Were you in the area? Can you provide any information about these appalling attacks? If you can, we need to speak to you."
Police can be contacted on non-emergency line 101, quoting incident numbers 1423 and 1442 of 23/03/2019.
(JG/CM)
Both attacks, which occurred at around 10pm on 23 March, are being treated as hate crimes.
In the first assault, police said a 15-year-old boy was "doing nothing more than making his way home" on the OldPark Road, close to the junction with Rosapenna Street, when he was approached. Two males, both of whom were on bikes, directed sectarian comments toward the victim before assaulting him with metal bars. He was later taken to hospital for treatment.
The second incident occurred only 15 minutes later, when another 15-year-old male and a friend were making their way home along the Crumlin Road, close to Russell's shop, when they too were approached by two males on push bikes. Again, they were threatened and had sectarian comments directed at them. One of the culprits then punched the 15-year-old under his eye. The victim believes that he was struck with something metal. They struck him again before fleeing.
Police have since issued an appeal for anyone with information on the "disgusting" attack to come forward: "We want to catch these two and we need your help. We need to identify these two individuals who were using the push bikes in this area last night.
"Were you in the area? Can you provide any information about these appalling attacks? If you can, we need to speak to you."
Police can be contacted on non-emergency line 101, quoting incident numbers 1423 and 1442 of 23/03/2019.
(JG/CM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 June 2016
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
Police Officers Disciplined For Failing To Tell Doctor About Woman's Head Injuries
Two police officers have been disciplined after they failed to let their colleagues and a police doctor know that a woman had sustained a head injury, a Police Ombudsman investigation has concluded. The woman died from bleeding to the brain on 24 February 2014, the day after she suffered the injury.
29 June 2001
POLICE TREAT BOMB ATTACKS AS SECTARIAN
POLICE are treating a nail bomb attack on a house in South Belfast just after midnight on June 29 as sectarian. A woman sleeping upstairs escaped unharmed when the device was thrown through the living room window at Upper Dunmurry Lane. It exploded causing damage to the living room starting a fire. The woman is being treated for shock.
POLICE TREAT BOMB ATTACKS AS SECTARIAN
POLICE are treating a nail bomb attack on a house in South Belfast just after midnight on June 29 as sectarian. A woman sleeping upstairs escaped unharmed when the device was thrown through the living room window at Upper Dunmurry Lane. It exploded causing damage to the living room starting a fire. The woman is being treated for shock.
26 January 2018
Alliance Slams Thugs Behind Sectarian Graffiti In Omagh
The Alliance Party has hit out at the thugs behind sectarian graffiti in Omagh mocking the Kingsmill massacre. The graffiti was daubed on a wall in the Great Northern Road area of the town and references the Kingsmill atrocity, in which 10 workmen were killed in South Armagh in 1976.
Alliance Slams Thugs Behind Sectarian Graffiti In Omagh
The Alliance Party has hit out at the thugs behind sectarian graffiti in Omagh mocking the Kingsmill massacre. The graffiti was daubed on a wall in the Great Northern Road area of the town and references the Kingsmill atrocity, in which 10 workmen were killed in South Armagh in 1976.
17 August 2001
Minister condemns pipe bomb attacks
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey has condemned the continuing spate of sectarian pipe bomb attacks. The Minister’s call came after the most recent attack on a man and his 12-year-old daughter on Tuesday August 14. Both suffered from shock after a pipe bomb was thrown at their home in north Belfast.
Minister condemns pipe bomb attacks
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey has condemned the continuing spate of sectarian pipe bomb attacks. The Minister’s call came after the most recent attack on a man and his 12-year-old daughter on Tuesday August 14. Both suffered from shock after a pipe bomb was thrown at their home in north Belfast.
12 November 2015
No Evidence Found Police Were Involved In Sectarian Attack
No evidence has been found to support concerns that police did not intervene to stop a sectarian attack in Coleraine in which one man died and a number of people were injured, the Police Ombudsman has concluded.
No Evidence Found Police Were Involved In Sectarian Attack
No evidence has been found to support concerns that police did not intervene to stop a sectarian attack in Coleraine in which one man died and a number of people were injured, the Police Ombudsman has concluded.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.