An attack on pair of young girls in a play area in Belfast is being treated as a "transphobic" hate crime, police in Northern Ireland have said.
The toddlers, both aged just three years old, had been at the play area on Glenbryn Park, a road in North Belfast, when they were set upon and attacked by a group of other children.
The girls' father is transgender, it is understood.
Police said the group of youths had shouted abuse at the two girls as they played, before approaching them and pulling their hair.
The girls' father, who had been with the pair at the play area, is transgender, it is understood
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A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson said: "Police are investigating a report of assault on two children in a park in the Glenbryn Park area of north Belfast on April 22.
"At around 2pm, it was reported that a group of young people were shouting at the children and pulled them by the hair.
"This is being treated as a transphobic-motivated hate crime.
"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting 1371 22/04/24."
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The incident took place in a play area on Glenbryn Park, North Belfast
The number of "transphobic hate crime offences" reported by police in Northern Ireland sits at historic highs.
Between 2021/22 and 2022/23, officers recorded 81 of the offences - just nine fewer than across the previous 10 years.
PSNI defines a "transphobic incident" as "any incident which is perceived to be transphobic by the victim or any other person".
It says transphobic incidents can include assaults, damage to homes or property, verbal abuse and hate mail.
PSNI said the incident was "being treated as a transphobic-motivated hate crime"
PA
Police say they "recognise the impact that even minor transphobic incidents have on the victim and wider community".
PSNI's transphobic hate crime leaflet states: "We will, therefore, respond to all incidents reported to us, whether or not they amount to a crime."
