Ballymena attack: Muslim family's home 'targeted' by petrol bombers

Margaret Ibrahim said their home was petrol bombed because her husband Amin Ibrahim "is a Muslim"

A woman whose County Antrim home was damaged in a petrol bomb attack said they were targeted because her husband "is a Muslim".

The incident happened in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks.

Four people in the house escaped injuries in what police have described as a religious hate crime.

The bomb was thrown through the front window in Kintyre Park, Ballykeel, at about 01:00 GMT.

Margaret Ibrahim believes her family were attacked because her husband Amin Ibrahim is a Muslim.

"Islamophobia"

"They all think that Muslims are the same but they're not," Mrs Ibrahim said.

"I just feel so angry that somebody would do that to innocent people."

"I'm really afraid to live here any more with my family."

Mr Ibrahim said it was not the first time they had been the target of anti-Islam harassment.

"It's Islamophobia," he said. "We get hassled all the time."

Supt Ryan Henderson said: "The criminals who carried out this attack are ignorant, intolerant and dangerous people.

"Their hateful views and intolerance have manifested themselves in a dangerous attack on an innocent family."

Supt Henderson said the petrol bomb attack was "out of step" with the area's multicultural community.

"I am disgusted by this attack and I know that the vast majority of Ballymena people will react in a similar way," he said.

The attack happened at Kintyre Park, Ballykeel, in Ballymena

"The home owners are long standing and valued members of our community.

"Police and other statutory agencies are offering support to the family."

Two men wearing hooded tops were seen leaving the area shortly after the attack.

Police are appealing for information from the public.