Syrian man's 'life destroyed' after racially-motivated attack

A Syrian man whose home was attacked in what police are treating as a racially motivated hate crime in Holywood, County Down, has said his "life has been destroyed".

Torki Alomare said two of his children were injured in the attack on the family home in Church Green on Sunday night.

On the same night, windows were also smashed and paint thrown over his parents' home on nearby Church Road. A vehicle parked at the property was also damaged and a quantity of cash taken.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the attacks to come forward.

"They threw six or seven big stones they destroyed a window and then they ran over, as CCTV shows," Alomare told BBC News NI.

"My wife she was nearly having a heart attack on the ground," he said.

"I just lost control of what I was doing, call the police, call the emergency and then everybody was scared on the ground."

Alomare and his family, who moved nine years ago under the Syrian Resettlement scheme, left the property on Monday.

He said it is now too dangerous to stay there.

"They destroyed my life and I cant go to my work now, I go to the work, I can't, everything has stopped."

Alomare said his parents were also too afraid to stay in their home, which they were planning to leave.

Police say enquiries are ongoing and have urged anyone with information or video footage "to do the right thing and come forward".

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has condemned the attacks.

"These attacks have occurred in the wake of disgraceful social media comments which are continuing, racism has no place in our society, we are seeing the best of Northern Ireland showcased in terms of the Fleadh as a welcoming and diverse place," Muir said.

North Down DUP MLA Peter Martin described the attacks as heinous.