City Hate Crime Condemned

A 21-year-old man has been arrested following what police have called a hate crime in south Belfast last night.

It is believed a gang burst into a house occupied by four Hungarian women in the Donegall Road area at around 8pm.

The women are said to have hid under a table until police arrived.

No one was injured during the incident, but the women were left extremely shaken.

Detectives last night said they were treating the attack as a hate crime.

Friends and neighbours of the women have condemned the attack.

Seanin Brennan, who knows one of the women, told the BBC she was disgusted by the incident.

She said the women had come to the province seeking a better life.

"They have come here thinking we are European and part of the European Union.

"It is despicable and disgusting that anyone in Northern Ireland would treat another human being like this," said Ms Brennan.

According to John Sharrett, who lives nearby, a large gang of men had gathered outside the house.

"There were 30 fellas staring threateningly just to make sure these poor people left. Thirty fellas baying for blood," he said.

SDLP assemblywoman Carmel Hanna condemned the attack, describing it as reprehensible.

(PR/JM)