Latvian men targetted in latest NI racist attack

Three Latvian men were injured in an attack which appeared to be the latest racist incident in Northern Ireland.

Three Latvian men were injured in an attack which appeared to be the latest racist incident in Northern Ireland.

The men, all in their 20s, were walking through a park in Lurgan, Co Armagh, at around 9 p.m. last night when they were targeted by a gang.

One of the men was stabbed in the arm and the other two badly assaulted and kicked to the ground. Police said the men were all taken to hospital from Lord Lurgan Park for treatment.

It is not known how many attackers there were, but police said their preliminary inquiries suggested it may have been a racial attack.

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Detectives will return to the park at first light to continue a search for evidence and have appealed for anyone in the park at around the time of the attack to report what they saw.

The attack followed the targeting with graffiti of the homes of several Filipino hospital workers in north Belfast in the early hours of Monday morning.

Several houses in the Skegoneill and Fortwilliam areas were daubed with slogans and cars damaged in a wave of vandalism which outraged politicians and local residents.

Loyalist paramilitaries were accused by Sinn Fein of orchestrating the attacks.

To highlight opposition to the continuing attacks on ethnic minorities, the Anti-Racism Network is due to hold a solidarity protest in north Belfast tonight.

The group said they and the local community wanted to show their abhorrence at the racist attacks on ethnic minorities.

Spokesman Mr Dominic Adams said the Filipino and Chinese populations, who have also been attacked, belonged to the north Belfast community and should be valued.

He said: "There is no room for these attacks in our society and people should be able to live free from attack and intimidation, no matter where they come from."

Mr Adams added: "The ARN is calling on the local community and politicians to take an active role in preventing attacks and showing solidarity with people who have been intimidated and the vigil."