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A 12-year-old boy has been arrested by police investigating a number of racially-motivated hate crimes in south Belfast.<\/p>\n
The district police commander, Supt Finola Dornan, said a group of young people had repeatedly targeted a business on the Donegall Road.<\/p>\n
She said this included a “series of incidents of criminal damage, theft and aggressive behaviour towards staff and customers”.<\/p>\n
The boy was detained on Wednesday night on suspicion of five counts of criminal damage and one of theft and was bailed ahead of police interview on Thursday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“The age of those involved in these crimes will be of concern to all of us,” Supt Dornan said.<\/p>\n
“I would like to be clear that the arrest of a young person only ever takes place after careful consideration and, in this case, when it is absolutely necessary, and there is a legitimate and lawful purpose to do so.”<\/p>\n
She added that police were making inquiries to identify the other young people involved in the offences.<\/p>\n
“Hate crime has no place in our society and we will be proactive in our approach to ensure justice prevails,” she said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n