Sudanese family's home daubed with racist graffiti

A migrants' charity in Londonderry has condemned racist graffiti on a Sudanese family's home as "disgusting".

The police are treating the incident in the Fountain estate as a racially-motivated hate crime.

The North West Migrants' Forum (NWMF) said graffiti reading "local only", alongside a crosshairs symbol, was sprayed on the property, where the family-of-four live, overnight.

"This family – a mother, father and their two children – have lived peacefully in the Fountain since their arrival in Northern Ireland and had only recently moved a short distance to this new property," a NWMF spokesperson said.

"This is a family well-known to us and one that has become firmly embedded in our organisation through their volunteering efforts.

"They are also well-known and well-respected within the Fountain community, where they have been volunteering with a local youth club."

The NWMF said it will do all it can to support the family and urged politicians to "condemn this awful act".

The police said they believe the damage occurred overnight, and have appealed for information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or recorded it on dash-cam or CCTV.

Inspector Michael Gahan described the attack as "completely unacceptable".

"Everyone deserves to live without fear or intimidation," he said.

Local campaign group United Against Racism (UAR) condemned the graffiti as "threatening".

Spokesperson Karen McCole said those who carried out the attack did not represent the area or the city.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting this family, they are fantastic people who give all they can back to the community," Ms McCole said.

"Derry is a place where people are welcomed no matter where they are from."