On Saturday a 12-year-old boy was attacked by a group of up to 10 young people, some of whom were wearing Rangers jerseys, in London Street on the edge of the Fountain estate at around 4.30pm.

He was punched around the head and neck and sustained minor cuts and bruises.

In a separate incident on the same day, a 14-year-old boy was attacked by a gang of youths on Irish Street.

Two 15-year-olds have been arrested in connection with the attack.

In another incident, a man was attacked in the Triangle area of the Waterside by a group of men wearing Glasgow Celtic jerseys.

The PSNI has said it is treating all three attacks as sectarian.

DUP Assembly member William Hay branded such sectarian attacks as "a cancer in society".

He added: "These attacks are ongoing and it could take a generation before we get this cancer out of our society."

There were those, he said, who believed the only way to deal with issues they felt strongly about was to attack someone from the other community.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "Sectarianism is an evil in our society which needs to be stamped out.

"Everyone in this city – and in particular our children and young people – should neither suffer nor have to fear violent assault or sectarian abuse."

The PSNI area commander for Foyle, Chief Inspector Chris Yates, said: "Sectarian incidents will not be tolerated in Foyle and I would strongly appeal to anyone who is caught up in this type of behaviour to think about the serious consequences of their actions."

He said police were following up all lines of inquiry into the attacks, saying: "Everyone has the right to live in this city without fear of attack."

The mother of 12-year-old Caelin McFarland said her son had been beaten and knocked to the ground by up to 12 males on Saturday afternoon.

Una McFarland said: "They grabbed him by the necklace and punched him about the head and neck until he fell to the ground."