An arson attack on a church in east Belfast is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime.

Damage was caused to the shutters and front hall of the building, which is situated in Templemore Street and used by the Universal Church Of The Kingdom of God.

Police said an angle grinder-type tool was used to cut a hole in shutters at the premises before a fire was started.

Firefighters extinguished Tuesday evening’s blaze, with assessments of the damage being carried out on Wednesday.

The Police Service Of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said two masked males, wearing dark-coloured tracksuits, arrived at the premises shortly before 9.30pm.

A PSNI spokesman added: “An angle grinder-type tool was then used to cut a hole in the shutters before a flammable substance was thrown inside and set alight.

“Fire service personnel attended and extinguished the fire, which caused damage to the shutters and the front hall of the building, with further smoke damage caused inside the building.

“Both males are believed to have run off along Templemore Street after the incident, which is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.”

The church, first founded in Brazil in 1977, has congregations across the world, including 45 in the UK.

It has been present in Northern Ireland since 2012 and at the site on Templemore Street since 2018.

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In a statement, the East Belfast Churches Network said their members “unequivocally condemn the arson attack”.

Network chair Rev Sammy Robinson said: “Racism has no place in our community.

“We are deeply saddened that this has happened, especially to a church and organisation which seeks to help people regardless of race or creed here in east Belfast.”

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Rev Mervyn Gibson of the nearby Westbourne Presbyterian Church said: “I condemn it unreservedly.

“If those misguided people who did this did it in the name of racism or against immigration, it should be condemned.

“The people of east Belfast do not want to see racist attacks against their neighbours.”

Police have issued an appeal to anyone with any information to call 101.

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