18/08/2009

Border City Assault Was 'Hate Crime', Says PSNI

An attack on a Lithuanian man in the centre of the northern border city of Newry early today is being treated by police as a hate crime.

The 35-year-old victim 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 police 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.

The PSNI said they were treating the attack as a 'hate crime' and appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.

SDLP Newry councillor Gary Stokes has condemned the attack: "This is a despicable act of violence against a man walking on his own in the city.

"I condemn the actions of this group of people wholeheartedly. The city of Newry belongs to everybody, not a select group of people who believe they have the right to choose its occupants.

"Generally, Newry has enjoyed excellent relations with foreign nationals living and working in the area and we hope to strengthen that relationship into the future," he said, noting this as an isolated incident.

"I hope the victim has a speedy recovery from his injuries and further hope that the perpetrators are caught immediately and brought before the courts and exposed to the rigours of the law," he concluded.

(BMcC/KMcA)

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