High-level talks as Belfast attack on migrants continue (Roundup)

Jun 18, 2009, 14:35 GMT

   London - The spate of xenophobic attacks on the homes of Romanian citizens in Northern Ireland continued Thursday as more than 100 migrants were kept at secret locations under 24-hour police protection.

   The fresh attack late Wednesday on the home of a family with five children in east Belfast came just 24 hours after 115 Romanians were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in a church in a southern suburb of the city.

   Romania's consul general, Mihai Delcea, was Thursday due to discuss the attacks on his compatriots with political leaders in the British province.

   Many of the men, women and children who have been attacked by racist thugs, hurling bottles and bricks at their homes, have said they want to return to Romania.

   The latest victim, 20-year-old Sorin Ciurar, said he was left shaken by Wednesday night's attack in which a bathroom window was smashed.

   'I am frightened. I don't know what we are going to do now,' he said. He and his family had been living in the property for about three months.

   Reports said the family's five children could be seen peering from bedroom windows as the house came under attack.

   Meanwhile, the 20 families attacked Tuesday were being kept at secret locations under police guard.

   'We have been able to find secure, comfortable and well-appointed temporary accommodation. It is important we give these families a few days to settle down and consider their own futures,' Michael Graham, a Housing Executive, said.

   The attacks, which police are classifying as a hate crime, have been condemned by both unionist and nationalist politicians in the province.

   Meanwhile, Delcea was due Thursday to have talks with Peter Robinson, the Protestant leader of the regional government, and his deputy, Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Fein.

He was also due to discuss the migrants' plight with Margaret Ritchie, the Social Development Minister in the regional government.

'Very sadly, we have seen another attack on a Romanian family in east Belfast. All of this raises very fundamental questions about the type of society we want to develop and create in Northern Ireland,' she said Thursday.

'Northern Ireland is still deeply divided, deeply segregated. People in urban areas here in Belfast live in divided communities. The process of reconciliation and healing must start,' said Ritchie.