An attack on a Lithuanian man in the centre of Newry, Co Down, early today is being treated by police as a hate crime.
The 35-year-old man was walking through the city centre at 12.45am when he was approached and attacked by four men on the Armagh Road close to its junction with Edward Street.
A PSNI spokeswoman said the man was struck over the head a number of times with a piece of timber and had his mobile phone taken. He was taken to hospital suffering from a fractured wrist and a series of lacerations to the head. His injuries was not thought to be life threatening.
Police said they were treating the attack as a hate crime and appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
Sinn Féin MLA for Newry & Armagh, Mickey Brady branded the assault a sickening" racist attack.
“Racism has no place in our society and must be faced down wherever it rears its head. Not long ago the local community here was shocked when a Polish man was killed. We had hoped then that this was the end to these attacks.”
Mr Brady said intimidation and attacks against ethnic minority communities must be investigated to the fullest by police and those responsible brought before the courts.
SDLP Newry councillor Gary Stokes said it was: “a despicable act of violence” against a man walking in the street. “The city of Newry belongs to everybody, not a select group of people who believe they have the right to choose its occupants.”
PA