Family targeted in two racist attacks at their home in Co Down

According to police, a family from County Down were targeted in two racist attacks in two days last week.

Two adults and two children had to be escorted from their home after a car was set alight in the O’Donnell Park area of Castlewellan.

Police said they are treating the blaze, which happened just after midnight on Thursday 13^th April 2017, as arson. 

Two days prior to the incident, a woman living in the house was assaulted at the property by four men.

The attack on the woman occurred in the early hours of Tuesday 11^th April, when four men broke into the house.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was treating the two attacks as “suspected racially-motivated hate crime”.

Inspector Philip Quinn said it was “extremely fortunate” no-one had been injured in the arson attack outside the house.

He added that “The lady who was assaulted on Tuesday morning described three of her assailants as being dressed completely in black, while the fourth was in a white top and bottoms.“

“Two were wearing monkey hats. I would ask anyone who saw anything that might help us identify these people or who saw anything suspicious in the area around 2.30am to contact police in Downpatrick.

“This family has been frightened and upset by these two attacks – which had the potential to be much more serious. It is extremely fortunate that no-one was hurt as the fire could have spread to the house in which two young children were sleeping.

“I would like to thank the neighbours who reacted quickly last night – calling the emergency services to the scene and alerting the family.” 

Police have appealed for anyone who saw suspicious activity in the O’Donnell Park or Burrenwood Road area on Thursday night to contact them.