Masked gang beats teenager with metal pipes in 'sectarian' attack

A teenage boy has been punched and beaten with metal pipes by a gang of youths in what police are treating as a sectarian attack.

It happened at around 20:55 BST on Tuesday night after the gang had chased the teenager into the Knockwellan Park area of Londonderry's Waterside.

Police said he was then attacked by the gang, some of whom were masked, and beaten and punched.

"This is being treated as an assault motivated by hate and it was undoubtedly a terrifying experience for the young person concerned," Ch Insp Craig said.

The police attended the scene, spoke to the teenager and his father and advised the boy to attend hospital for treatment for his injuries.

Officers conducted patrols in an attempt to find the attackers and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

It is the second assault on a teenage boy in the city's Waterside in less than a week.

Last Thursday, police said a teenager was assaulted by two men in the Nelson Drive area, adding officers were working to establish if the attack was sectarian.