A YOUNG Romanian family say they plan to leave their Belfast home after their car was burnt out overnight in a racist attack.
Daniel Cirpaci (25) said his family's Renault Megane was set alight outside their home in Ebor Street in the loyalist Village area of south Belfast.
It happened yesterday in the early hours shortly after the father-of-two had returned home from working late at Moy Park in Ballymena.
The attack is the latest in a series of incidents in the Village where threatening graffiti of both a racist and sectarian nature has been daubed on properties.
Just weeks ago racist graffiti saying "locals only" was sprayed on a derelict house in nearby Donegall Avenue.
Mr Cirpaci said he could not believe what had happened.
"When I came home from work I went to bed, but about an hour later I saw my car on fire. When I went outside I couldn't believe it was my car," he said.
"Why did they do this? We just came here for work and for a better life.
"My family are very scared. My wife said we have to move house – this area is very bad for us."
Mr Cirpaci, whose boys are aged five and three, said it is the first time anything like this has happened to his family.
But the 25-year-old said he has suffered frequent discrimination in the past, and the vandalism to his car has left him fearing for his life.
"When I walk down the street they call me 'black' and call me names. It happens every time when I go out when I started to live here," he said.
The factory worker added: "I could maybe get killed one day. It is very bad."
Mr Cirpaci, who has lived in Northern Ireland for nearly two years, said he has contacted his car insurer but said the claim could take weeks to process.
He said his car is very important for being able to travel to work and he doesn't know how his family will manage without it.
"If I get money from my car maybe I will move house," he said, adding that they would consider moving to Ballymena for his work.
Police and fire crews attended the scene after receiving a report of a burning car on Ebor Street yesterday at about 2am.
The PSNI said the criminal damage is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime.
Inspector Jamie Hughes appealed for anyone within information to call the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
