• Children narrowly avoided injury when rocks were thrown at their Londonderry.
• 1 rock broke through window and into a room where 2 children were playing.
• Police say they are treating the attack as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.

When rocks were thrown at their Londonderry home during a sectarian violence, children narrowly avoided injury.

Just around 16:45 GMT on Saturday, a group of youths targeted two homes on the Fountain Estate.

According to DUP MLA Gary Middleton, one rock broke through a window and into a room where two young children were playing.

The children’s toys were broken and although they were not hurt, they were left “badly shaken”, he said.

Officers confirmed they are treating the attack as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.

As well as smashing a window and toys, damage was caused to an interior wall in the family’s home.

“The suspects are understood to have left the area via Hawkin Street, towards New Gate,” a police spokeswoman said.

Mr. Middleton declared that he thought outsiders to the estate were to blame.

“It seemed to be teenagers. It happened very quickly and police were on the scene quickly,” he added.

“It is clearly an attempt to heighten tensions in the area.”

The assembly member described the attack as reckless and added: “The kids weren’t injured but are badly shaken.”

Disgusting attack on property in the Fountain area this evening. Thankfully there were no serious injuries however there is no doubt that this could’ve been much worse as a result of the reckless actions of those involved. https://t.co/fpDTgQWx8F pic.twitter.com/QPRvXF2mju

— Gary Middleton MLA (@Gary_Middleton) January 7, 2023

Local councillor Niree McNorris said she was “disgusted” by the incident.

“I have spoken to the home owner and both myself and Gary Middleton are liaising with police,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

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