Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stock image. Picture: Belfast Telegraph
An alleged assault in Co Tyrone on Saturday is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime by police after they said a man delivering leaflets was targeted.
Police said the incident happened in the Ballycolman estate in Strabane during the afternoon.
They said the victim was in the area before being verbally abused and physically assaulted by a man who got out of a car.
The victim’s mobile phone was also allegedly stolen by the man who made off in the vehicle afterwards.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “It was reported that a man, who was delivering leaflets in the Ballycolman Avenue/Columban Terrace area, at around 3.45pm on Saturday afternoon, was verbally abused then physically assaulted by a man who had stopped and got out of a grey coloured car.
“The attacker also took the man’s mobile phone before getting back into his car and driving off in the direction of Bridge Street.
“He was described as being approximately 30 years of age, 5’ 11” tall, of heavy build with a short beard and brown hair and was wearing a dark top and spoke with a local accent.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stock image. Picture: Belfast Telegraph
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“The incident is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime and officers would ask anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them in Strabane on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 934 15/11/25.”