The teenage boy was attacked by a group in the early hours of Sunday morning
A teenage boy has sustained facial injuries including a broken nose following an assault in Co Derry over the weekend.
The assault happened in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, February 22, in the vicinity of Shipquay Place near Guildhall Square in Derry city centre.
Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris was contacted by the teenager’s mum about the incident, and said “his only crime was that he was a Protestant.” Police said they are treating the assault as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.
READ MORE: Man hospitalised after attack by group armed with baseball bats in Co DownREAD MORE: Arrest after members of public spot ‘man with gun’ in Co Antrim village
“I have just been contacted by a distraught mum whose son was attacked in the town by approximately 20 youths. His only crime was that he was a Protestant,” Ms McMorris said.
“The young guy who was only 16 received severe facial injuries and has had to get medical attention in hospital. All too often we hear of these mindless attacks happening and it concerns me that someday these attacks will lead to a fatality.
“No one should be attacked because of their religion or for any other reason. I have spoken to the PSNI who will be investigating this attack and hopefully they will identify the attackers on the CCTV cameras, as these attacks need to STOP. If anyone has any information, please get in touch or speak directly to the police.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police in Derry/Londonderry, investigating a report of an assault on a boy in the city centre area during the early hours of Sunday, 22 February, are appealing for witnesses and information.
“The assault is reported to have occurred at around 2.35am in the vicinity of Shipquay Place area, and a number of people are reported to have been present at the time.
“The victim, aged in his teens, is reported to have sustained injuries including a broken nose as a result of the assault, which is being investigated as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.
“Police are working to establish the circumstances and appeal to anyone that can assist their enquiries to call 101, quoting reference number 1068 of 22/02/25, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
“A report can also be made online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
To ensure you don’t miss out on all the latest from Belfast Live, be sure to make us your preferred source on Google.