The police version is that this could be a hate crime, as residents of the house include four young Lithuanians, Lithuania’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Asta Skaisgirytė said.
“It all happened at 2 AM, they drove up to the house where the four Lithuanians live, fired at least three shots and drove off. The police are investigating the crime, their version is that this could be a hate crime,” Skaisgirytė told BNS in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
In her words, Lithuania’s honorary consul William Harper Sinnerton is working at the scene.
The attacked Lithuanians told the local media that they had moved to Northern Ireland eight months ago, adding they were scared but had no plans to leave. Their identities have been withheld.
Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, expressing concern over the incident and saying it trusted local authorities to find the culprits.
“We hope that the incident will be investigated and the guilty persons will be punished. Possible demonstrations of hate must be fought in a principled manner to prevent xenophobia from ousting hospitality and tolerance,” the ministry said in a press release.
In Skaisgirytė’s words, the embassy is currently aware of at least 10 hate crimes against Lithuanian citizens.
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