Racist attacks 'not orchestrated'

Belfast reds supporting unwanted Romanian criminals

There is no evidence to suggest a series of attacks on Romanian families in south Belfast was orchestrated, police have said.

PSNI Chief Inspector Robert Murdie was speaking after youths attacked an anti-racist demonstration on Monday.

Residents were protesting on the Lisburn Road over a spate of attacks on immigrant families living in the area.

A group of youths leaving a bar were heckled by demonstrators and retaliated with bottles and Nazi salutes.

No-one was injured in the incident.

Police were called to the scene, but the crowds dispersed peacefully and the area now appears to be quiet.

Police have said they are investigating racist incidents and criminal damage in the area over the last four days.

Chief Inspector Murdie said the number of patrols had been increased.

"It is very difficult to try to be in an area 24 hours a day to try to stop these attacks happening," he said.

"The local community are probably aware of who these individuals are."

He appealed to local people to give police names and identify those carrying out the attacks.

Protest organiser Paddy Meehan said there had been continual attacks from Wednesday.

"People are absolutely livid about what has been happening here and it has to stop," he said.

"This protest has sent a clear message that people do not want this going on in their area and that this has to stop right now."

Demonstrators had shouted "Nazis off our streets" as the youths passed and the youths gave Nazi salutes.

A gang smashed windows at this house in south Belfast

The Alliance Party's Anna Lo said that the trouble at the rally was a "disgrace" but that those throwing bottles were "a small minority".

"We are all here to show support for the migrant workers who have been attacked and have been hounded out from one street to another street," she said.

Earlier, two houses inhabited by a Romanian family were targeted in a racist attack.

A gang smashed windows and terrorised pregnant women and children in attacks on houses on Belgravia and Wellesley avenues.

It was claimed that the people who attacked the house were shouting Combat 18 slogans and a letter containing text from Hitler's Mein Kampf was pushed through the letterbox of one of the properties.

There have been racial tensions in the area since trouble erupted at a World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and Poland at Windsor Park in March.

A number of migrant families subsequently decided to leave their homes.

(Below taken from UTV News Report - see here)

Anti-racist protest attacked in South Belfast

A protest held by residents in south Belfast, following a spate of racist attacks on houses occupied by Romanians, was attacked on Monday night.

The demonstration was attacked by a group of young people, who came up a side street on the Lisburn Road throwing bottles and shouting abuse at the protestors.

Police are investigating racist incidents in Belgravia Avenue and Wellesley Avenue that occurred last weekend.

A local resident told u.tv that a gang of youths attacked the houses with bricks and smashed windows.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "A crowd gathered on each occasion and the properties and a number of windows were smashed."

People living in the Lisburn Road have called on locals to demonstrate against the attacks on Monday evening.

Alliance Assembly member Anna Lo said: "These acts of intimidation and hate are utterly contemptible. I am outraged that individuals can bring themselves to carry out crimes of this nature."

"A few thoughtless thugs must not be allowed to disrupt people's lives and cannot be allowed to tarnish the good reputation of south Belfast."

"These thugs need to realise that it is people who carry out racist hate crimes who are not welcome in our society. People who can help police catch the perpetrators of these attacks must contact them immediately," she added.

(Below from Belfast Telegraph)

Youths attack anti-racism protest in Belfast

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

Local youths threw bottles at residents in south Belfast last night who had gathered to protest against attacks on immigrant families in the area.

The anti-racism protest was arranged by residents in response to a spate of attacks on the homes of immigrants living in the area.

A group of youths leaving a bar made Nazi salutes at the demonstrators and threw bottles at them before being chased away.

Nobody was injured in the incident.