Car damage caused during large gathering treated as racial hate crime

Police received a report of a large gathering of people in the Factory Street area at about 19:20 BST on Monday

Police are investigating two incidents in which drivers were approached by a large group of people in east Belfast as racially-motivated hate crimes.

They received a report of a large gathering of people in the Factory Street area at about 19:20 BST on Monday.

The driver of a silver car was approached by members of the group and they then left their vehicle.

It was later reported the car was damaged, as the crowd dispersed following the incident.

The driver of a navy coloured car was also confronted by the group but managed to drive off.

There were no reports of any injuries to the driver of the navy car or damage to the vehicle.

The police have appealed for information.

Ch Insp Dunne said there will be "an increased policing presence in the area" and "self-appointed patrols are not accepted and will not be tolerated".

"We would urge that anyone with concerns are reported to police, so they can be addressed by police safely and effectively."

'Completely unacceptable'

Michelle O'Neill said those responsible should be dealt with "with the full force of the law"

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the incident was "horrendous".

"I couldn't imagine how those individuals felt and I'm very much mindful of how they're feeling today in the aftermath of something as horrific as that," she told the BBC.

"I think those people that were responsible need to be dealt with with the full force of the law."

Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said targeting someone "because of who they are, where they are from, or what they believe" was "completely unacceptable".

She urged people "not to get involved in this despicable behaviour".

"You will be held to account and the penalties could include a prison sentence.

"As a society we must not stand by and tolerate racism or intimidation."

Naomi Long said people should not get involved in the "despicable behaviour"

Long said there was existing legislation to provide "a range of protections" for victims of hate crime but she had plans to introduce more.

"Racism and sectarianism in Northern Ireland are two sides of the one coin," she added.

"Racist attitudes and the growing anti-migrant sentiment in Northern Ireland will only be addressed through a partnership approach, and will not be solved by one department alone.

"If any individual suspects that a crime has been committed, I would encourage them to report it to the PSNI."

Gavin Robinson said there was "no tolerance" for breaking the law

Speaking on the BBC's Nolan Show, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the group had displayed "racist intimidation".

"There are a group of individuals who are currently going around east Belfast and they are confronting members of the community… which has led to police involvement," he said.

"You don't protect the local community by breaking the law.

"We saw the last four, six weeks this emergence of so-called vigilantes and that's not okay.

"It's okay to raise issues and campaign and highlight issues but there is no tolerance in our society for breaking the law."