‘Sinister’ graffiti daubed on the walls of a house in the Sicily Park area of south Belfast. 07/04/2024
Police are investigating a hate crime in south Belfast after ‘sinister’ graffiti appeared on a home in the Finaghy area.
The words, ‘Taura not welcome’, are reportedly intended to intimidate the man who lives in the house. It is also being treated by investigators as criminal damage.
The resident’s name is Takura, and it is believed he is being targeted as he has previously spoken out against racist posters which were erected in the area last month, which were calling for the Housing Executive to ‘stop housing illegal immigrants.’
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said: “This is an appalling and sinister attack which was designed to threaten Takura for speaking out. Those behind it do not represent South Belfast which is a community of compassionate, kind and welcoming people.
“However, that does not diminish its impact on those people who are being targeted. It creates fear and it is completely unacceptable.
“I have reported this graffiti to the PSNI and I would urge anyone with any information to contact them urgently.
“It’s time for all parties to come together and condemn racism. It is always left to the same people to speak out and if we’re serious about tackling this we need to do so together. Our next meeting of the Assembly’s All-Party Group on Ethnic Minority Communities will be with key representatives to discuss how we can shut this down.”
Reported to police at 9.45am this morning, the graffiti is believed to have occurred some hours earlier between 2am and 4am.
Chief Inspector Mark Conway said: “We are treating this as a hate-motivated crime and our enquiries are ongoing.
“The sentiment expressed is unacceptable and I am appealing to anyone with information that could assist enquiries to get on touch on 101 quoting reference 498 07/04/24.”