Anti-racism rally takes place in Derry following attacks

Updated / Saturday, 14 Nov 2026 16:34

People in Derry have attended an anti-racism rally in the city following violent attacks on three members of the Nigerian community.

One of the victims was left with a broken leg after he was beaten with an iron bar.

A woman had her car windscreen smashed and a man was assaulted in a pub.

The attacks all happened in the Bond Street area of the city within a short time of one another last Sunday.

Police have said they believe they may be linked and were racially motivated.

Derry Trades Council organised the rally at Ebrington Square in the city at lunchtime today and heard from the man whose leg was broken - a healthcare worker.

He told the crowd that "everyone deserves to be treated with respect". He then became emotional and had to be led away.

The woman whose car windscreen was smashed said she had only stopped to speak to her friend - the man whose leg was broken - when they were approached by people demanding to know where they were from.

She was showered in glass when a metal rod was used to smash her windscreen.

She said in the days since, she had struggled with anxiety.

"I didn't feel like leaving my house," she said.

"I didn't feel like driving. I didn't feel like going shopping.

"So you know, people had to do that for me."

Damian Doherty of Derry's Trades Council said they had felt it was important to give people the opportunity to protest at what had happened.

"We were absolutely disgusted by the attacks, and we felt that the right thing to do was to hold a rally first and foremost to say that you know Derry is not a racist city."

David Lawal, who represents the Nigerian community in Derry, said people were very apprehensive following the attacks.

"We have a lot of our members who are medical doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, who are working," he said.

"People are very disturbed. They can't even go to work.

"You don't even know what's going to happen to your house."

The crowd was told Derry was a civil rights city where racism was not welcome.