Belfast set for anti-racism protest

An anti-racism rally will take to the streets of Belfast later today in response to a spate of recent hate crimes.

Two teenagers aged 15 and 16 are still being questioned by police after windows were smashed at properties in south Belfast leaving more than 100 Romanians fleeing their homes.

The victims were put up overnight in a church hall earlier this week. They have been given emergency accommodation while they consider their future.

The protest against racism will be held outside Belfast City Hall this afternoon.

Barbara Muldoon from the Anti-Racism Network said: "It is not with shame that most people I have spoken to have reacted to these racist attacks but with anger, anger that arguments against immigrants - particularly Roma - have found their way into the local media, anger that these attacks took place over months and nothing was done, anger that the families were left for days without any hope of protection, anger that the families were treated with contempt, anger that the politicians are deliberately blaming immigrants for the lack of jobs and resources that has been caused by their handling of the recession."

She called for a coordinated response.

"We are hoping that this rally will be the first of many called to protest these attacks, and we are urging people to take the time to come down to the rally on Saturday."

Donegall Avenue, where yesterday's arrests happened, is in the loyalist working-class Village area near the two properties that were attacked last weekend.

Around 114 people became refugees as the Romanian ambassador visited Belfast for talks with political leaders and police.

Separately, on Wednesday night a bathroom window was broken in a house in east Belfast where three generations of Romanians were living.

Political leaders have condemned the violence.