Race hate crime focuses on Polish families with young children

Two Polish families in north Belfast found themselves the victim of a race hate crime when a group of men approached and vandalised their homes on Mountcollyer Avenue last night.

The families, which included a baby and a three-year-old girl, were targeted by men, one of whom was reported to have been carrying a pickaxe during the attack.

The bedroom window of a 15-year-old boy was also shattered during the unprovoked attack on the family homes.

Commenting on the crime, one of the victims asserted that they no longer feel safe in their family home, revealing: "It doesn't feel like my home. It's not my home anymore."

Admitting that the attack has coloured their view of the area, the victim goes on to say: "I want to go somewhere else. I really don't want to stay here."

Speaking out about the crime, Inspector Roy Watton said: "We are treating this incident as a racially motivated hate crime and I would appeal to anyone with any information which could assist us to identify those responsible to contact police at Tennent Street on 101."