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A Sudanese family living in Londonderry has been targeted by racist graffiti, but they have firmly stated they will not be driven out of their home. The words “local only” accompanied by a crosshairs symbol were spray-painted on the exterior of their house in the Fountain estate overnight. This incident is currently being investigated by police as a racially motivated hate crime. Hala Ahmed, who lives in the house with her husband and two of their children, expressed her determination to remain: “I will be happy to stay here. The Fountain is our first choice and we are going to stay,” she told BBC News NI.
The family arrived in Northern Ireland in December 2024 and have lived exclusively in the Fountain estate since their arrival. Ms. Ahmed explained, “Since I came from airport, we moved directly to the Fountain. We have never lived anywhere else. We just recently moved to another house in the area.” She emphasized their commitment to becoming part of the local community, adding, “We have been doing our best to part of the community here. There are nice people here who support us.”
The distress caused by the graffiti became evident when Ms. Ahmed’s daughter noticed it on her way to catch the bus to school. “She called me and said come and see what was written on the wall. When I came out, I saw those words ‘local only’,” Ms. Ahmed recounted. She identified herself and her family as local residents who had never encountered such hostility before. The incident has also drawn the attention and support of local community members, including Jeanette Warke, a community worker who said, “This family is so important to our community and are involved with our programmes here,” and added, “Hala and her family are an asset to the community. The person who did this should meet Hala and her family.”
Political and community leaders have condemned the graffiti, describing it as hateful and threatening. Colum Eastwood, the Foyle SDLP MP, called the attack “hateful,” stating that newcomers who are building their lives and contributing to the community “deserve to live in peace.” Eastwood emphasized that those responsible “should be held accountable for the disgusting attempt to intimidate this family.” Meanwhile, police officers investigating the case believe the damage took place overnight and have urged the public to come forward with any information or video evidence. Inspector Michael Gahan labeled the act “completely unacceptable,” stressing, “Everyone deserves to live without fear or intimidation.” Additionally, Karen McCole from local campaign group United Against Racism condemned the graffiti as “threatening,” affirming that the perpetrators do not reflect the values of the city of Derry, which she described as “a place where people are welcomed no matter where they are from.
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