Loyalist rampage in Belfast

Loyalists have carried out a series of racist and sectarian attacks in south Belfast.

The gang of at least eight smashed furniture in a house in the Donegall Road area at around 10.30pm on Monday night, before moving on to target other properties nearby.

A man and a woman were both struck in the face during the first attack by a mob of eight masked men, before it moved from Coolfin Street into Donegall Road and Euterpe Street.

The victims included a Catholic woman and a Polish man, who were both struck in the face.

It is understood that many of those attacked had only recently moved into the area.

The area’s SDLP MP Alasdair McDonnell said the people targeted must have had “a terrifying ordeal.”

“Sectarianism, racism and bigotry has no place in our society and I would urge anyone with information about these brutal attacks to pass it onto the police immediately so that the thugs responsible can be brought to justice.”

In another incident, a Filipino family are set to flee their home in Whiteabbey, north of Belfast, after cars in their street were torched on Tuesday morning.

DISSIDENT ATTACK

Meanwhile, a three-day PSNI police operation in Keady, County Armagh, linked to an ongoing bomb alert is continuing after what the PSNI said was “viable device” was found.

A device was found on Tuesday following a bomb warning received by the PSNI on Monday. The PSNI said the device was found by a “member of the public”, after which they evacuated homes in the area. and cordoned off a five-mile stretch of road.

The PSNI said they believe a fire set just after midnight on Sunday was an attempt to draw the force into the area. A section of fencing in the area was set alight before being put out by firefighters.

Urgent Appeal