'Defenseless' man beaten in racially motivated hate crime, say police

By Connor Stringer

A man has been left hospitalised after three men, armed with a hammer and other weapons, attacked him as he lay in bed, police have revealed.

The men forced entry into the flat, striking the occupant around the head, body and legs a number of times, in what police have described as a racially motivated hate crime.

The victim remains in hospital following the aggravated burglary. 

Detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary at flat in Main St. Dungiven. A man lying in bed was attacked by three men armed with a hammer and other weapons. The occupant was left hospitalised in what police believe is a racially motivated hate crime. pic.twitter.com/wo7idFDNoz

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) June 19, 2020

Detective Inspector Peter McKenna described the incident a  'vicious attack on a defenceless man in his own home'.

He said: “It was reported that shortly before midnight on Thursday, three men, armed with a hammer and other weapons, forced entry to an upstairs flat and attacked the male occupant as he lay in bed. 

"The occupant was struck around the head, body and legs a number of times and required hospital treatment following the attack for his injuries. He remains in hospital this morning. The attackers were described as white males in their mid-20’s with local accents and all three had their faces covered with scarves. 

"We are treating the incident at this time as a racially motivated hate crime.

"This was a vicious attack on a defenceless man in his own home and I would appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity, or anyone who was travelling in the area at the time of the attack and has dash-cam footage of Main Street, or anyone with any information which could assist us to identify those responsible, to contact detectives in Coleraine on 101, quoting reference number 4 19/06/20."