Families hit in new wave of racist attacks in Belfast area

Indian, Filipino and eastern European families have been targeted in a series of racist attacks in greater Belfast. The assaults on homes in two loyalist areas in the last two days have raised fears of a fresh upsurge in racially motivated ­violence in Northern Ireland. Last year repeated intimidation of Roma families in south Belfast resulted in more than 100 men, women and children fleeing Northern Ireland for Romania. Their departure was the climax of an upsurge in racist incidents across Northern Ireland in 2009, with almost all of the attacks taking place in or close to loyalist working class districts. In the latest incidents a mob of up to eight masked men forced their way into a house in the loyalist Village area of south Belfast around 10.30pm on Monday. The gang smashed up furniture in the house and then minutes later attacked another home in the street. A police spokesman said the men then forced their way into a house on Donegall Road where they assaulted a man, who sustained a cut to his cheek. The gang also slapped a woman in the face during the assaults. Meanwhile police are investigating another attack during which two cars were set alight in Whiteabbey, north of Belfast, in the early hours of yesterday. The vehicles belonged to Filipino and Indian families who live in the area and work in the health service. Local Newtonabbey councillor Noreen McClelland said those behind the attacks did not represent the Whiteabbey community. "This has shocked the local community because this is not how the people of Newtownabbey treat their neighbours. I'm sure the wider community will rally around and show those responsible that this is not the view of the majority." In a separate development, loyalists were being blamed for an attack on a north Belfast community worker who has been outspoken over the activities of loyalist linked drug dealers. Mary Kelly's home was attacked for the second time in recent months with a pipe bomb.