AN assault on a 12-year-old Protestant boy in north Belfast, which police are treating as sectarian, has been branded “sickening”.
Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a child was attacked and punched in the face on Saturday evening.
He was walking past a fast-food outlet in the Ardoyne Road area at around 7.30pm when he was assaulted.
Police said a group of five young people, believed to be aged between around 13 to 14, called out to him.
“One of them then approached him and punched him above the eye," Inspector Nick Browne said.
“This was a frightening experience for the victim and it is being treated as a sectarian hate crime.”
North Belfast SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon condemned the attack and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.
“It is sickening that a child was attacked by a group of young people while out walking on Saturday evening. This sectarian hate crime should be met with universal condemnation. The fact that attacks like this continue to happen in 2021 should be a wake-up call to us all.
“My thoughts are with the boy who is understandably shaken following this attack.
"Incidents like this do not reflect the community in North Belfast and Ardoyne, where the vast majority of people just want to live in harmony with their neighbours."
DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst said he was "disgusted" by the attack which he said involved two boys buying food from a shop at the time.
"Had it not been for the intervention of a local worker, this attack could have ended much worse given the intent and determination of the attackers.
"It’s important the police tackle these sectarian thugs," he said adding he would be contacting the PSNI District Commander "to ensure everything is done to convict those responsible."