12-year-old boy victim of gang attack
A 12-year-old boy was the victim of what is believed to have been a sectarian assault in Londonderry at the weekend.
The boy had been walking with a friend along the Carlisle Road at around 1.10pm on Sunday when a gang of six youths began shouting abuse at the pair.
The boy – believed by police to have been a Catholic – was then attacked and suffered cuts and bruises to his face and neck.
Detectives, who are probing a sectarian motive for the assault, have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Mark Durkan said that such incidents should be met with “vocal and outright condemnation”.
He said: “I am aware that in the case of the 12-year-old boy police are investigating a possible sectarian motive for the attack.
“Children and young people in this city should never suffer nor have to fear violence assaults or sectarian abuse.
“Sectarianism is an evil in our society which needs to be stamped out. Indeed, it is a problem that needs to be addressed quickly and collectively by all relevant agencies in our city.”
Urging anyone with information about the attacks to contact police, Mr Durkan added: “This is not only an issue for just one part of our society. Both sectarianism and violence crime affects everyone.”
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Weather for Belfast
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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