Detectives are appealing for information following a report of an assault at licenced premises at the Hill Street area of Belfast City Centre on Monday 23rd December.
Detective Sergeant Kitchen said: “At around 10:30pm, it was reported that a man in his 30s was both verbally and physically assaulted inside a bar in the area. The man was taken to hospital with bruising to his right thigh and a laceration to his head following the incident.
“Enquiries are continuing but at this stage, the incident is being treated as both a sectarian and homophobic hate crime.
“Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident, is asked to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference number 1624 23/12/24. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ . You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”