Racist war of the loyalist street gangs

Not far from the red, white and blue paving stones, the Ku Klux Klan graffiti and the “Chinks out” notices scratched outside south Belfast Chinese takeaways, Hua Long Lin was at home watching television when a man burst in and smashed a brick into his face. His wife, also in the room, was eight months pregnant. The couple had moved into the terrace two weeks before.

Neighbours expressed regret but one white family told a community worker they couldn’t offer a Chinese family friendship in public or they would be “bricked” too.

“It’s like Nazi Germany,” they explained.