LYNDA Watson of the Caw and Nelson Drive Action Group has totally condemned a second attack on a Romanian family, living in the area, in the space of a month.
Last month the home of the Rosta family, of Lisnagowan Court, was attacked leaving their front window smashed and two paint bombs tossed in. One of the family's children suffered a cut foot in that incident.
"I am in total disbelief that people woul
d stoop so low. These attacks need to stop and I want to make it clear that those responsible in no way represent this community," said Lynda Watson.
The latest attack, thought to have ocurred at around 2am on Sunday, resulted in the family's BMW car being gutted by fire and the word 'OUT' being spray painted on the front door of the home.
The Rosta family, orginally from the Romanian capital Bucharest, moved to Londonderry from London just over eight weeks ago. Father of four children and husband of Elena, Malin Rostas expressed his belief that the attacks are racially motivated and he has not been welcome in the area since his arrival.
"We have to move away from here now because of these attacks. I have no idea why this has happened," he said.
David Malcolm of the Ulster Political Reseach Group (UPRG) also hit out at those responsible for the attack. He said: "I would condemn such attacks outright. All families, no matter what their background, have the right to live where they like. I would call for all such attacks to stop."
In the wake of the original attack on the Rostas family, Mayor of Londonderry, Drew Thompson called for increased police presence in the Caw and Nelson Drive area. He had also warned that spiralling anti-social behaviour in the district could result in someone being killed.
Waterside SDLP Councillor, Gerard Diver said: The Waterside councillor said: "It's disgusting that the Rosta family have had their family car destroyed and their home violated with the painting of the word 'out' on their front door.
It couldn't be any clearer that this is a further 'hate crime' in a campaign being orchestrated by racists against this family.
I think it's particularly saddening that people who have come to our city with the hope of making a better life for themselves should have had to endure such terrible abuse.
This reprehensible behaviour is thankfully not representative of our local community and I'm sure that all right thinking people will join in condemnation of it.
It is critical that the police take affirmative action with the full support of the local community so that those responsible can be brought before the courts."
Commenting on the latest incident a spokeswoman for the PSNI said: "Police in Derry are investigating a an incident of criminal damage following reports of a car on fire in the Lisnagowan Court area shortly after 2:00am Sunday morning. The car, a grey BMW was gutted in the blaze and police are treating it as a racially motivated incident. "
