Romanians flee Belfast homes after racist attacks
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BELFAST (Reuters) - Gangs of men have smashed windows and broken the doors of houses occupied by more than 100 Romanians in Belfast, forcing them to flee their homes.
Sectarian violence between pro-British Protestants and pro-Irish Catholics has been a feature of life in the British-controlled province of Northern Ireland for decades, but crime against immigrants from Eastern Europe has been rising.
"I have no intention of staying in Northern Ireland. I want to pack up and go back to Romania," Maria, one of the victims, told reporters. She declined to give her last name but said she was acting as a spokeswoman for the group.
"It has gone on for two weeks. I haven't had a week's sleep. It is unbelievable what has happened."
The attacks on the Romanians -- including some being threatened at gunpoint -- follow rival fans clashing at a Northern Ireland-Poland World Cup qualifying soccer match in March, the same month two British soldiers and a policeman were killed in renewed attacks by pro-Irish militants.
Police said on Tuesday that they would be stepping up patrols but said they did not believe the attacks against the Romanians were organized.
"All they want to do is return to Romania, that sends out a very negative message about Northern Ireland," Jeffrey Donaldson, a DUP junior minister told reporters.
"Just as sectarianism in the past has been responsible for violence and division, we cannot allow racism to become the new sectarianism. We want to leave that behind us."
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the attacks were an affront to the vast majority of people in Belfast and called for the perpetrators to be punished.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed his comments.
Police assisted support groups in moving the families to a church hall overnight and then to a leisure center, where the local community donated blankets, towels, food and milk. Officials have helped them find other temporary accommodation.
(Additional reporting by Adrian Croft in London, Writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Alison Williams)
