Racists target homes

A group of Eastern Europeans and Spaniards were making plans to leave south Belfast after their home was targeted by unionist paramilitaries shortly after 9pm on Sunday night, 15 August.

Four men and two women escaped serious injury when their Donegall Road home was attacked with stones and bottles. One of the women, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they were told there could be trouble moving into the area.

"I just moved in last week, but we did not think this would happen. I moved here because it is close to the city centre where I work, but now I'm going to have to move again. The people who do this think it makes them powerful, but it does not. We cannot leave Belfast because we work here, but we can't stay in this area."

As the group prepared to leave their home, there were calls for an anti-racist rally in the city centre to show solidary with victims of race attacks.

In another racist attack, a 34-year-old man from Eastern Europe was badly beaten by a seven-strong gang of loyalist thugs in the front garden of his home in the Alexander area of Armagh city on Saturday night 14 August. The man suffered fractures to his ribs and upper body.

On Sunday night 15 August, the man's home was petrol bombed, causing scorch damage to the front door.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with a petrol bomb attack in Dungannon, when a group of Portuguese were targeted at around 2.45 on Sunday 15 August. No one was injured when the petrol bomb was thrown at the grouping in the Market Square area.