MAE: Recent attacks against Romanians in Belfast investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland

Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) is informing that the Police Service of Northern Ireland are investigating recent attacks against Romanians and other Eastern Europeans in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to establish whether or not they can be considered hate crimes.

'About information concerning attacks against Romanian and other Eastern European nationals recently perpetrated in Belfast, Northern Ireland, MAE is hereby informing that it has undertaken, on its own initiative, to contact directly the local Police of Belfast, the local government and representatives of the Romanian community of Belfast to get detailed information about the incidents, via the Romanian Embassy in London and the Consular Office of Edinburgh. Given that several incidents have occurred lately in the eastern part of the city, the Police Service of Northern Ireland are currently looking into each of the incidents to establish whether or not they can be prosecuted as hate crimes,' reads a press release issued by MAE on Wednesday.

The release also says that the Romanian Embassy in London, via the Consular Office in Edinburgh, is keeping in touch with the relevant authorities and representatives of the local Romanian community and it is ready to step in if need be. Information so far indicates that the incidents involved attacks against Polish, Slovakian and Romanian nationals in Eastern Belfast that included breaking home windows and damaging cars.

'MAE trusts the local authorities to clarify as soon as possible the circumstances in which the incidents occurred, voicing expectation that such actions will not go unpunished and the North-Irish authorities will take the necessary measures for such situations not to escalate,' reads the release. AGERPRES