Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
Google Maps
General view of the Derwent Street area
# Hammer Attack
Toddler injured as gang attack house with hammers
A group of men attacked the home in east Belfast last night in what is thought to be a sectarian incident.
A TODDLER WAS injured last night after a gang of men attacked a house in Belfast wielding hammers.
The house in the Derwent Street area in the east of the city was attacked at around 8.05pm last night by a large group of men. A father and his young daughter were in the building at the time, and the girl was reportedly injured by broken glass.
It’s thought the injury was a cut to her forearm. The PSNI are currently treating the incident as sectarian.
UTV have named the girl’s father Chris Smallwood, who said the attackers told him to leave the area within 24 hours. “This has happened to me before because I am going out with a Catholic,” he told the station.
Belfast’s Lord Mayor Niall O Donnghaile told the BBC: “Over 15 masked men attacked this young family in their own home, injuring a young child. My thoughts are with the family who have indicated they will not return to the house.”
Read more: Man critically injured in Belfast assault>
