DETECTIVES are appealing for information following the report of an aggravated burglary at a house at Knock Grove in east Belfast on Sunday, March 8.

It was reported that a group of up to six armed and masked males forced entry to the house at around 6 pm on Sunday evening, and assaulted the male occupant with baseball bats.

The occupant sustained bruising to his head and body as a result.

A woman and small child who also live in the house were unharmed but left badly shaken.

The males left the scene on foot following the attack.

The incident is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime and detectives are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them at Musgrave on 101 quoting reference number 1345 08/03/20. 

Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.