Calls to end racially motivated hate crimes after mosque attacked
Derry City & Strabane Superintendent William Calderwood said one person has been arrested.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There have been calls for an end to racially motivated hate crimes after a mosque was attacked over the weekend.
A petrol bomb was thrown at the mosque in Co Down in the early hours of Saturday, while cars were set alight in Belfast, in incidents described by police as racially motivated hate crimes.
The mosque in Newtownards was attacked at around 1am on Saturday, with graffiti sprayed on the front door and walls of the building in Greenwell Street.
Police said the petrol bomb did not ignite.
Alistair Cathcart, mayor of Ards and North Down, said the mosque has been in Ards for more than 20 years.
“Its members are our neighbours, friends and colleagues,” he added.
“It is a great relief that the nobody was hurt. There is no justification for racism, violence and intimidation in our communities and like others I would call for it to stop.”
The attacks happened hours before thousands of people took to the streets of Belfast on Saturday in an anti-racism demonstration.
Up to 15,000 people took part in the demonstration, which began at Belfast’s Writer’s Square before making its way to City Hall.
Several protests in Belfast city also passed without incident on Friday evening, but police said officers are investigating a number of reports of damage to property and vehicles.
Cars were set alight in Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens and police said the incidents were being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.
The rear door of a restaurant in Ormeau Road was also kicked, with racial slurs shouted at the workers inside.