News

Hate attack on family home of pregnant Sudanese woman branded 'shameful'

Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk
Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

AN attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family which forced them to leave their home in east Belfast has been branded "shameful".

The attack on the woman's home at London Road, which saw a number of windows broken by rocks, is being treated as a "racially-motivated" incident.

The woman, who is due to give birth next month, her husband and their two children, aged seven and one, were out when the attack happened and returned to find the police waiting for them.

It is not the first time the family have been targeted.

In April, windows in the couple's car were broken and previously, eggs were thrown at their home.

Police have appealed for information about the latest attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk
Police have appealed for information about the latest attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk Police have appealed for information about the latest attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

The family, who are believed to be refugees who have been living in Northern Ireland for two years, have now left the property and are living in a hostel.

"I had nightmares thinking that someone was after us and they wanted to hurt my family," the woman called Amina told the BBC.

"It's my responsibility to look after my kids and to keep them in a safe place, it's my responsibility to protect them."

However, she said she had to try and explain to her son what a race hate crime was.

"I'm sure this will not be the last time he's going to experience this," she said.

"We have to be honest and rational. We are not from here and there are people who don't like foreign people living around them.

"I want him to understand this as soon as possible, so he can be ready for what might happen in the future."

SDLP assembly member Claire Hanna, who appealed for anyone with information to contact police, said the "shameful catalogue of attacks that this family has been subjected to is a disgrace".

Sinn Fein councillor Mairéad O'Donnell said there could be no place for racism in society.

Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Photo by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk
Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Photo by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Photo by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

"They and other refugees and those from other countries who have chosen to make Belfast their home, are an integral part of our community and are very welcome," she said.

A PSNI spokeswoman, who said the attack was being treated as a "racially-motivated hate crime", appealed for information.

Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk
Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk Police have appealed for information about a hate attack on the home of a pregnant Sudanese woman and her family in east Belfast. Picture by Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk