Health care worker suffers suspected broken leg in spate of ‘appalling’ racist attacks in Derry’s Waterside NWMF
A health care worker suffered a suspected broken leg, another had her car windscreen smashed while a man was chased and beaten in what have been described as a series of appalling racist attacks in Derry’s Waterside.
The North West Migrants Forum reported that three people were targeted in two incidents on Sunday.
A male healthcare professional was seriously assaulted as he spoke to a female family member close to Clooney Terrace, the forum said.
The woman, also a care worker, had her windscreen smashed. The male victim suffered injuries including a suspected broken tibia, NWMF added.
In a separate incident, a man was chased and beaten in Bond Street.
All matters were reported to the PSNI.
The 28-year-old victim of the attack near Clooney Terrace told NWMF he had just crossed at a set of traffic lights and was speaking to a relative when he was approached by a group of men.
“We thought nothing of it and we continued chatting when one of the men called me a Black b******d. I laughed it off and said nothing. Then another man asked me what I was laughing at.
“He asked me where I was from and I told him I was from Derry. He replied ‘it’s Londonderry’. It was at that point that they started punching and attacking me. I managed to escape but two of them followed me and starting punching and kicking me again.”
The man, originally from Nigeria, has lived in Derry since January 2025 and has worked in a local care home since September of last year.
He said: “It was a terrifying experience. I don’t know who these men were but I do know that if I see a large gathering like that again, I’ll run.”
A NWMF spokesperson branded the attacks ‘shocking’ and said they hoped someone would be held to account.
“These were disgraceful, unprovoked assaults based on nothing more than the victims’ skin colour.
“Two of those targeted provide a vital service in care homes in this city. One of them remains in Altnagelvin where he is being treated for his injuries. The reality is that he now faces a period of time off work as he recovers from his ordeal.
“We believe these attacks to be the actions of a few individuals and that they do not reflect the views of the wider Waterside community, many of whom have befriended and shown support to our members.
“Hopefully the PSNI can track those responsible down and bring them before the courts because behaviour like this cannot go unpunished.”
United Against Racism Derry said: "We offer our sincerest solidarity and friendship to those who were attacked.
"Our activists will provide any practical help we can to the victims of these heinous crimes .
"One of the victims of yesterday’s attacks was a healthcare worker, who is still in hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained.
"That healthcare hero missed work today, his job is looking after vulnerable elderly people.
"He’ll likely miss months of work now, looking after vulnerable, elderly people.
"When we tolerate racism and don’t speak out we aren’t just failing the people who are targeted, we are failing all of society.
"The Waterside is a diverse and welcoming place, violent mobs of racist bullies won’t change that.”