Girl, two, hurt in sectarian attack
The father of a two-year-old girl, who was injured when up to eight masked men burst into their east Belfast home, has said he thought he was going to be killed in front of her.
Chris Smallwood, 25, was in his house at Derwent Street when a gang of masked men, armed with hammers, arrived just after 8pm on Monday.
The toddler suffered an arm injury during the incident after she was cut with shattered glass.
“She was screaming her eyes out,” Mr Smallwood told UTV.
The protestant man says he was targeted because he has a catholic girlfriend. Police confirmed they are treating the incident as sectarian.
“One of the men told me I had 24 hours to leave,” Mr Smallwood said.
The toddler’s aunt, Clare Smallwood, described the extent of the child’s injuries.
“She has cuts on her arm and glass in her hair,” she told UTV.
Belfast Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile has condemned the attack.
“I want to condemn the thugs who are responsible for such a vicious attack on a young family in their own home,” the Sinn Féin councillor for Pottinger said.
“Having been in contact with the PSNI this morning it is becoming clear that the sole motivation for this attack was sectarianism.
“My thoughts are with the family, who have indicated they will not return to the house.”
The attack has also been condemned as “absolutely appalling” by local MLA Chris Lyttle.
“The whole community is in shock that a young child was injured during this incident,” the Alliance representative said.
“The fact that the police are treating this attack as sectarian is also extremely disturbing.”
South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell said: “I condemn this vicious attack and believe that such attacks have no place in society.
“All children have the right to safety within their own home and community.”
Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward
