Police issue race-hate attack warning in Belfast

Ethnic minority communities have been warned by police about an escalation in race-hate attacks in the south Belfast area.

They have been urged to be vigilant over the weekend as the police have received intelligence that racist groups plan violence in the area.

Police patrols have been increased in the area, which has the highest proportion of ethnic minority families in the North.

Inspector John McCracken said the community should not panic.

“This message is not meant to alarm people. It is simply a proportionate response by police in response to ongoing problems with race-hate crime in the south Belfast area.”

There have been around 90 race-related incidents in south Belfast since the beginning of the year.

Ten days ago, a Bangladeshi family escaped injury after two petrol bombs were hurled at their house at Fane Street in the Lisburn Road area.

The couple and their five-year-old daughter managed to flee the flames after the devices exploded.

The folowing day, three Nigerian men fled their home after a suspicious object was found at the back of their home in Coolfin Park. It was later found to be a firework.