A BLACK man was assaulted in what police believe was a racially motivated attack in the early hours of Saturday.

The victim was walking through town with a woman in the early hours of Saturday morning. The victim, who was in his late twenties and is 5ft 10 in and of medium build with a shaved head, walked away from the Havana Club at around 1 am with a woman in her late twenties or early thirties towards Snow Hill and they waited for a taxi. A white man, 6ft 2in and of stocky build, is believed to have approached the couple and racially abused the man with some physical contact believed to have taken place. The couple left Snow Hill and walked towards Halkett Place where the assailant allegedly assaulted the man and tried to assault the woman. A man was arrested in connection with the incident and charged with committing a grave and criminal assault. He was due to appear in the Magistrate’s Court today. The police are appealing for witnesses.