Man ‘shaken’ after being injured in racially-motivated attack

A man has been left “shaken and distressed” after being attacked by a group of teenagers in Belfast.

Police are describing the assault, which happened in the Donegall Road area on Thursday evening, as a racially-motivated hate crime.

The man, in his 20s, was walking home from work at around 22:25 GMT when he was approached by up to 15 teenagers at the junction of Pandora Street.

Members of the group surrounded the man and “threw punches” at him, injuring his nose.

After throwing a traffic cone in his direction, the attackers then stole his bike and made off down Prince Andrew Park.

The bike was later recovered by police some distance away.

South Belfast Neighbourhood Insp Róisín Brown said this “unprovoked attack on a young man going about his business is completely unacceptable”.

“He has been left shaken and distressed, as well as sustaining an injury which required medical treatment,” Insp Brown said.

“Hate crime has no place in our society and we will be proactive in our approach to ensure justice for victims.”

She added that local officers are working to identify those involved “so that they can be held to account for their actions”.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.