Alliance condemns suspected racist attack

12.00.00am GMT Tue 17th Feb 2004

ALLIANCE Councillor Tom Ekin has condemned the suspected racist attack in the Botanic area of South Belfast last night.

Councillor Ekin is chairman of Belfast City Council's new Good Relations Committee, which was set up to improve relationships between different communities in the city.

The South Belfast councillor stated: "I totally condemn the actions of anyone who takes part in racist attacks. These pointless incidents show that there are those in our society who have little understanding of tolerance, and that we have some way to go before minority ethnic communities can feel completely welcome here.

"I would encourage anyone who witnessed this attack in a busy area to come forward and contact the PSNI, as racism can only be tackled if people work together to confront it.

"I find it incredibly frustrating that several years after I called for Hate Crimes legislation in Belfast City Council that the Government is only getting around to another consultation exercise now. How many more people must be attacked by racist, sectarian or homophobic thugs before the new laws are brought in?"