POLICE HAVE arrested a 21-year-old man following a racist attack on the home of four Hungarian women in south Belfast.
A front door was forced by a gang of men and windows were smashed in the attack, which took place in the Village area off the Donegall Road on Thursday night.
None of the women was hurt but they are said to have been very shaken by the incident.
A witness told the BBC the attack was followed by intimidation. “There were 30 fellas staring threateningly just to make sure these poor people left,” he said. “Thirty fellas baying for blood.”
The incident comes after 11 families moved out of their homes last month following racist intimidation linked to a soccer match between Northern Ireland and Poland.
The PSNI said yesterday its officers were “determined to bring all of those responsible for this despicable attack before the courts” and would be “robustly pursuing the investigation”.
“We take racially motivated incidents very seriously and have made it a priority to bring those responsible to justice. Neighbourhood officers will continue to work with community representatives and partner agencies in the area to dispel tensions and promote better relations to help ensure everyone can live together peacefully.”
The attack was condemned by local politicians. South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell said: “The gang . . . are nothing but a group of cowardly racist thugs. Their mentality is to be hostile and aggressive to anyone not the same as themselves.”
Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said: “Such racist attacks and attitudes do not have the support of the majority of the community . . . racism has no place in the community.”
Alliance Assembly member Anna Lo said: “This attack is totally inexcusable. It was a shocking attack on four innocent women who have done nothing wrong except to be from another country.”