‘I will never get over watching my home burn’: Belfast residents reel after night of unrest
After a night of violence in Belfast, families including one with a two-month-old baby have been forced to flee their homes as fires were set. Residents, many of them immigrants, recount the horror of seeing their houses destroyed.
Homes lost to flames
Tuesday night's unrest in Belfast has left many families homeless. Jamie Corrie, a resident of east Belfast for 13 years, watched his house burn down, saying firefighters arrived only after it was already engulfed. He claims a car belonging to foreign nationals was set on fire next door, causing the blaze. "See standing there watching your house get burnt… that's a feeling I'll never get over," he said. While angry about the attack, he questioned its purpose: "What does this resolve? Burning cars out, wrecking your own community and now one of their own has just lost their home." He is grateful his children were not at home.
Ukrainian family flees
Yura, 19, part of a Ukrainian family on the same street, described the night as "terrifying." Her neighbour's house was set on fire, and her front door caught fire. She had to escape through the back door with her dog, and they also tried to rescue a neighbour's dog. Lucky to have friends nearby, she could stay overnight.
Community fears
Anselme Shima, a 13-year resident of east Belfast, was devastated and horrified, not knowing how to protect his children. Healthcare workers like Biji Jose from the Northern Ireland Indian Nurses Forum worry colleagues may leave due to safety fears. One man originally from India, living in north Belfast, decided to leave after the violence, calling it "a war zone" with everything burning.
Turkish barbershop and echoes of the past
Ozer Soy-Suren, co-owner of a Turkish barber shop in Ballyclare, expressed sadness that their business was targeted. Pastor Jack McKee helped families whose homes were attacked, noting that some church members were being forced out simply because they are black. Rev Brian Anderson said the scene reminded him of his childhood, when Catholics were burned out of their homes. "40 years later, people just living, wanting to contribute… because they were different, being burnt of their houses… It was a chilling echo to the past."
