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'40 flee' after World Cup riots | '40 flee' after World Cup riots |
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More than 40 foreign nationals have been forced out of their homes following riots involving NI and Polish football fans, it has been claimed. | More than 40 foreign nationals have been forced out of their homes following riots involving NI and Polish football fans, it has been claimed. |
The claim has been made by the Northern Ireland Polish Association. | The claim has been made by the Northern Ireland Polish Association. |
The trouble flared before, during and after a World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park last month. Eleven police officers were injured. | The trouble flared before, during and after a World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park last month. Eleven police officers were injured. |
However, Ulster Unionist councillor Bob Stoker said he believed the figure of 40 was "without evidence". | |
The Polish Association said a total of 46 people have fled the Village and Albertbridge Road areas of south and east Belfast after attacks on property and also physical abuse. | The Polish Association said a total of 46 people have fled the Village and Albertbridge Road areas of south and east Belfast after attacks on property and also physical abuse. |
It said that at least five people had decided to leave Northern Ireland permanently as a result of intimidation. | |
What these sorts of claims do is detract from the good work that is being done to build better relations with people from eastern Europe Councillor Bob Stoker | |
It has been claimed that Hungarians, Lithuanians and Slovakians, as well as Poles, have been targeted following the riots in a number of different parts of Belfast on Saturday 28 March. | |
Councillor Stoker said: "While I would obviously condemn attacks on people wherever they're from, I'm greatly concerned about people bandying figures like this about without any solid evidence. | Councillor Stoker said: "While I would obviously condemn attacks on people wherever they're from, I'm greatly concerned about people bandying figures like this about without any solid evidence. |
"What these sorts of claims do is detract from the good work that is being done to build better relations with people from eastern Europe. | "What these sorts of claims do is detract from the good work that is being done to build better relations with people from eastern Europe. |
"And this is not only in recent weeks, but over the course of the last 18 months." | "And this is not only in recent weeks, but over the course of the last 18 months." |
A Housing Executive spokesman said eight people had "presented themselves as homeless" in south Belfast, citing "trouble in the Village as the reason". | A Housing Executive spokesman said eight people had "presented themselves as homeless" in south Belfast, citing "trouble in the Village as the reason". |