Londonderry attack: Children escape injury as rock hits home

Image source, Google Maps

Image caption, A gang of young people attacked homes in the Fountain Estate on Saturday afternoon

Children narrowly escaped injury when rocks were thrown at their Londonderry home in a sectarian attack.

A gang of young people targeted two properties on the Fountain Estate shortly before 16:45 GMT on Saturday.

One rock smashed through a window and into a room where two young children were playing, according to DUP MLA Gary Middleton.

The children's toys were broken and although they were not hurt, they were left "badly shaken", he said.

Officers confirmed they are treating the attack as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.

As well as smashing a window and toys, damage was caused to an interior wall in the family's home.

"The suspects are understood to have left the area via Hawkin Street, towards New Gate," a police spokeswoman said.

'Attempt to heighten tensions'

Mr Middleton said he believed the culprits were not from the estate.

"It seemed to be teenagers. It happened very quickly and police were on the scene quickly," he added.

"It is clearly an attempt to heighten tensions in the area."

The assembly member described the attack as reckless and added: "The kids weren't injured but are badly shaken."

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Local councillor Niree McNorris said she was "disgusted" by the incident.

"I have spoken to the home owner and both myself and Gary Middleton are liaising with police," she wrote in a Facebook post.

Sinn F茅in assembly member Padraig Delargy described the attack as reprehensible, adding: "There is no place for sectarianism in our society.

"Those responsible should be brought to justice and I am appealing to anyone with information about who carried out this attack to bring it to the PSNI."