Lorraine Cooke was confronted by two men armed with pistols at her Ballymagroarty home on Tuesday night.

The intruders demanded to be taken to a safe at the house in Shaw Court but ran off when told there was none. Mrs Cooke and her children were uninjured but shaken by the ordeal.

"I said to the man, 'Go ahead and do whatever you want, but please don't hurt my children'," said Mrs Cooke.

"My son was panicking and shouting and yelling, and the one who was talking to me turned towards him, and I thought he might hurt him.

"The other one went towards my daughter's room and so I said to the man 'just don't hurt my children'."
Sinn Fein Councillor Billy Page said the incident was "deeply concerning".

"It concerns me that these people who obviously did not know the family are not from the area. It's important that these people are apprehended and taken off the streets as quickly as possible."

He added that the family had been singled out in the past. On one occasion the family dog was viciously beaten to death while on another occasion Mrs Cooke, a native of the Philippines, was subjected to sustained racial abuse.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area from 10pm onwards.

The number to call is 0845 600 8000 or the 'Crimestoppers' charity anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.