Two teenage boys were assaulted by two men on bicycles, armed with what’s believed to have been metal bars, in separate incidents in north Belfast last night.
Police are treating both incidents as hate crimes, as both had sectarian comments directed at them.
The assaults occurred around 10pm last night (Saturday 23 March).
In the first incident, a 15-year-old boy was making his way home along the Oldpark Road – close to the junction with Rosapenna Street, when two men, both of whom were on bikes, directed sectarian comments towards him and then proceeded to assault him with metal bars. This young man was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
Around 15 minutes later, another 15-year-old boy and a friend were making their way home along the Crumlin Road, close to Russell’s shop, when they too were approached by two men on bikes.
Again, they were threatened and they had sectarian comments directed at them – one of the men on the bikes then punched the 15-year-old boy under his eye, using the metal tool. They hit him again before fleeing.
“Disgusting – isn’t it? We want to catch these two and we need your help. We need to identify these two individuals who were using the push bikes in this area last night.
“Were you in the area? Can you provide any information about these appalling attacks? If you can, we need to speak to you,” said a police spokesperson.
Call 101 and quote incident numbers 1423 and 1442 of the 23/03. As always, you can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.