Teenagers in court over racist attacks

Two teenagers are due in court today charged in connection with the racist attacks on Romanian families in Belfast.

A 15-year-old and 16-year-old are each charged with provocative conduct, and the 15-year-old also with intimidation of the Romanian families.

The pair are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court, said a police spokesman.

They were arrested on Friday during police operations in the south of the city in the wake of vandalism and attacks on the homes of Romanian migrants which forced 22 terrified families – 115 people including 49 children – to seek refuge in a church hall on Wednesday night.

The Romanians were later given temporary accommodation in student flats in the University area of the city.

The racist attacks provoked revulsion across the North and on Saturday several hundred people attended an anti-racism rally in the centre of Belfast.

The Romanian families forced to flee their Belfast homes were so terrified that they wanted to go back to their homeland, a local politician said.

Most are already preparing to get out of the North, South Belfast MLA Anna Lo told the rally.

Ms Lo told the gathering the migrants who had arrived a year ago looking for a better life were too scared to stay.

“The majority are making preparations to go back to Romania,” she said.

“I think this is a very sad picture for Northern Ireland, that we can’t protect people who have come seeking a better life.

“So many of them liked it here, they like the people here, they like their jobs – but what happened in the last few days makes them fearful of staying here.”

The Alliance Party MLA said the families had been getting calls from relatives back home urging them to return.

“Sadly I think most if not all want to return as soon as possible.”

Trade unions, churches, political parties, Amnesty International and even the traveller community gathered to support the Romanians.