DETECTIVES are investigating after a man was stabbed in the leg in a hate crime attack yesterday in south Belfast.

Police say the 23-year-old was walking across a footbridge into Fane Street when he was approached by two men who shouted racist comments at him.

He was then stabbed in the right leg with a small knife.

Paramedics took him to hospital where he was treated for his injury.

The attackers described as being about 20 years of age.

One was wearing a grey Adidas tracksuit with blue lines, the other was wearing a blue raincoat and charcoal coloured tracksuit bottoms with blue lines.

Detectives in south Belfast have appealed for witnesses to the incident to contact them on 101.