Church which gave shelter to migrants attacked in Northern Ireland

Jun 23, 2009, 8:24 GMT

London - A church in Northern Ireland which offered sanctuary to more than 100 Romanians forced to flee their homes amid xenophobic attacks has been vandalized, the clergyman in charge said Tuesday.

Pastor Malcolm Morgan, who took in the scared migrants last week, said he found the windows of City Church in south Belfast smashed by stone throwers.

He said he found several windows destroyed at the front of the church and the main door windows smashed when he arrived early Tuesday.

'There were stones lying scattered on the floor inside and outside and obviously broken glass all around.'

The pastor, who has been widely praised for offering emergency shelter to a large group of men, women and children, said the church had never been attacked in such a way before.

He could only speculate that the attack was connected to the help the church had given to the 22 Romanian families.

Later Tuesday, a 21-year-old man is due to appear in court in Belfast charged with intimidation and provocative behaviour over last week's incident, which made headlines around the world.