Ekin condemns second racist incident in two days

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Jun 2003

ALLIANCE Councillor Tom Ekin has said the Government should speed up the introduction of Hate Crimes legislation for Northern Ireland after the second attack on homes of people from ethnic minorities in two days.

Condemning the violent robbery of a Chinese family in Finaghy, Cllr Ekin said: "It is crucial that the whole community displays a united front against this tiny minority of thugs who appear to be targeting homes based on the ethnic background of whoever lives there.

"I would also call upon the Government to speed up the introduction of Hate Crimes legislation for Northern Ireland, as a clear signal needs to be sent out that race-based crime is unacceptable and will be dealt with harshly.

"After a pipe bomb attack on the home of two black nurses yesterday, and the distribution of race hate literature in South Belfast, I am concerned that racist incidents, while infrequent, are becoming more common.

"The people of South Belfast are proud of the fact that it is the most multi-cultural area of Northern Ireland. I would ask them to assist the PSNI with their inquiries into the crimes of this racist minority that cannot see beyond the limits of its own narrow-minded bigotry."