A 13-year-old boy has described his terror when he and a friend were set upon in a sectarian attack in north Belfast.
The two Protestant teens said they were walking up Ardoyne Road shortly after 3pm on Saturday when they were punched up to 10 times in the head by two older boys.
Bailey Anderson (13) was left with a blackened and bloodshot eye and bruising, while his friend, who turned 14 yesterday, suffered a bloodied nose.
Bailey said they were on their way from Woodvale to Ballysillan Leisure Centre when the two attackers asked where they were from.
When they didn't answer, he said they were repeatedly punched and called "dirty wee prods".
The teen said he was "terrified" by the attack, which was stopped when onlookers intervened.
"It makes me feel annoyed that I can't go somewhere without being attacked because of my religion."
The perpetrators fled in the direction of Ardoyne.
The older boy, who did not wish to be named, later received treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Oldpark PUP councillor Julie Anne Corr Johnston condemned the attack.
"In 2016, 18 years post-peace agreement, we should not be witnessing violent attacks of this nature, particularly amongst our young people, who this agreement was designed to shield from the rife division Northern Ireland was once entrenched in," she said.
"We must redouble our efforts both politically and societally to consign violent acts of intolerance to the past. We must encourage respect in difference and appreciation for diversity."
Sinn Fein's Gerry McCabe urged anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI and labelled the attackers as "thugs".
"This attack on two young boys on the Ardoyne Road on Saturday was wrong and I condemn it," he said.
DUP councillor Brian Kingston said it was a "disgraceful" attack.
"I do not believe this is representative of how the vast majority of both communities wish to treat each other and it's very important that everyone co-operates with the police investigation."
Alliance councillor Nuala McAllister also said she was "sickened" by the news.
"There should be no place in our society for such an incident. This was an assault carried out by clearly callous individuals who have no regards for the well-being of others."
Police confirmed they are treating it as a sectarian hate crime and appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the attack to contact them at Tennent Street on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
