Three houses at Manor Street in Belfast have been targeted by youths with paint bombs in a sectarian hate crime – all within 30 minutes of each other.
The incidents happened this morning between 12.05am and 12.35am.
Police are currently investigating the criminal damage to the properties in the same street.
Inspector Robert McMurran said police received the first report just after midnight.
He said two youths had hurled an object at the window of a house, before throwing paint over it and running off towards the Oldpark Road. The window was shattered in the attack.
The inspector said the second report was made to police around 12.15am in which two men, wearing grey tops, threw a paint bomb at the front window of a property. The window was not broken in the incident.
And at around 12.30am, a front living room window had been smashed at a house in the area. No-one was at home at the time.
“While no-one was hurt in any of the incidents, the residents were left shocked by what happened. We are treating all three as sectarian hate crimes.
“I would appeal to anyone who saw these two men in the area or any suspicious activity at the time the incidents took place, to get in touch with us on the non-emergency number 101,” said the inspector.
Alternatively, information can also be provide to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.