Sectarian motive not ruled out in attack on girl

Police said this morning they had not ruled out a sectarian motive for an attack on a 12-year-old Catholic girl in north Belfast yesterday evening.

The girl was set upon by a group of youths - male and female - at Old Throne Park near the Whitewell Road at 5pm.

A PSNI spokeswoman said the youths pulled the girl the ground and began kicking her.

"The girl was treated in hospital for facial injuries, some bruising and swelling," the spokeswoman said.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the attack.