Man arrested in Coleraine following racially motivated assault and aggravated burglary

Detectives in Coleraine have arrested a man in connection with a serious racially motivated assault and an aggravated burglary that occurred on Tuesday night, 3 June.

Police received an initial report shortly after 10.15pm, alleging that a man had been assaulted in the Drumard Drive area of the town.

The victim, a man in his 40s, sustained head injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. The assault is being treated by police as a racially motivated hate crime.

A second incident was reported not long after, indicating that a man—matching the description of the suspect in the earlier assault—had forced entry into a home at Laurel Hill Gardens.

According to police, the intruder threatened a man and woman inside the property with a hammer.

Officers responded quickly, conducting a search of a nearby residence where they arrested a 31-year-old man. He was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple serious offences including:

• Grievous bodily harm with intent

• Aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm

• Possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence

• Affray

The man remains in custody as investigations continue.

A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed:

“Detectives investigating both incidents would ask anyone with any information or video footage from the Drumard Drive or Laurel Hill Gardens areas, which could assist them with their enquiries, to contact them in Coleraine on 101, quoting reference number 1789 03/06/25.”

Alternatively, the public can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.