Portuguese family targeted in Tyrone

Members of the Portuguese community were targeted by racists in an arson attack in Co Tyrone. Eight people including a child had to be rescued by police from apartments in Dungannon. At around 4.50am, a motorist noticed bins on fire outside the apartments. When they arrived, police discovered an electricity junction box had also been set alight. A police spokesman said: "Investigating officers are treating this as a racial attack and are appealing for witnesses."

Anti-racism campaigners have been concerned by the rise in racially motivated attacks. Members of the Chinese, Polish, Lithuanian, Ugandan, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Filipino communities have all been targeted in Belfast, Derry, Lurgan and Portadown.

The attacks have been linked to British loyalist terrorist groups such as the Ulster Volunteer Force. Racist groups like the White Nationalist Party and the British National Party have been blamed for stoking tensions.