Man and 12-year-old boy charged over racially motivated attack
A 12-year-old boy and 18-year-old man have been charged with riotous behaviour
- Published
A 12-year-old boy and 18-year-old man have been charged over what police are describing as a racially motivated attack on a family home in south Belfast.
Police said residents of a house in Donegall Avenue were injured when it was attacked by a group of young people at about 00:40 BST on Thursday.
The 12-year-old and 18-year-old have both been charged with riotous behaviour.
The boy is to appear at Belfast Youth Court on 22 September and the man before Belfast Magistrates' Court on 25 September.
Supt Finola Dornan said: "This incident was exceptionally serious involving the targeting of a family in their own home, motivated by racial hatred.
"Our officers acted quickly and effectively, making two arrests, however the ages of those involved are of particular concern."
She added: "I would like to reassure the entire local community that we will continue to be visible so as to prevent and detect offending of this nature, holding those responsible to account through the courts.
"We will carry out a full and thorough investigation to identify all those responsible."