Man beaten in 'sectarian' attack

A 27-year-old man has been assaulted by a masked gang at his home in Belfast.

Up to five men, one of them believed to have been carrying a gun, forced their way into the man's Newtownbreda Road flat at about 2030 GMT on Monday.

They then tied up and beat him before ransacking the property. The man was then dragged into the garden where he was further assaulted.

The man's father, who lives next door but was out at the time, said they both believe the attack was sectarian.

He also said they are preparing to move out of the area.

The gang who carried out the attack made off in a silver Mercedes car.

'No place'

"This type of attack has no place in our community and I would call upon anybody with information about this incident to contact the PSNI," said Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey.

Alliance Councillor Sara Duncan said: "These men who carried out this attack are adding nothing to our society except to scare innocent people in their own homes."