Three men have been arrested following what police have called a "shocking" racially-motivated hate crime attack at a crowded beach in North Down on Monday evening.
Incident Details
The assault occurred at Helen's Bay beach around 9pm, when the area was packed with people enjoying the warm weather. According to a police spokesperson, three men in their 30s were attacked after an earlier verbal altercation. The victims suffered a number of serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Arrests and Charges
Shortly after the incident, police stopped a vehicle and arrested three men aged 28, 23, and 21 on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a quantity of suspected class A and class B drugs. The 23-year-old was further arrested on suspicion of drug possession. All three remain in custody.
Police Investigation
The investigation is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime. Police have increased their presence in the area to ensure public safety and have commended members of the public who helped prevent the altercation from escalating further. Authorities are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident, to contact police on 101 quoting reference 1721 25/05/26 or via the online reporting form at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport.
