Portuguese family targeted in Tyrone

Members of Northern Ireland’s Portuguese community were targeted today by racists in an arson attack in Co Tyrone.

Eight people including a child had to be rescued by police from flats in Irish Street, Dungannon. At around 4.50am, a motorist noticed bins on fire outside the flats.

When they arrived, police discovered an electricity junction box had also been set alight.

A police spokesman said: “Investigating officers are treating this as a racial attack and are appealing for witnesses.”

Anti-racism campaigners have been concerned by the rise in racially motivated attacks.

Members of the Chinese, Polish, Lithuanian, Ugandan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Filipino communities have all been targeted in Belfast, Derry, Lurgan and Portadown.

Attacks have been linked to loyalist paramilitary groups like the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Far-right groups like the White Nationalist Party and the British National Party have been blamed for stoking tensions.