Families across Belfast are counting the cost after violence on Tuesday night forced residents to flee as fires spread through neighbourhoods. Several homes and businesses were damaged, and people who have lived in the area for years described scenes of fear and devastation.
Jamie Corrie, who had lived on Lendrick Street in east Belfast for 13 years, said his house was destroyed. He told reporters that by the time firefighters arrived his home was “already engulfed in flames.” Corrie said the blaze followed an incident in which a car next door, which he said belonged to “foreign nationals,” was set on fire. He said watching his house burn was “a feeling I’ll never get over,” and mourned the sentimental items inside that cannot be replaced. He was, however, grateful that his children were not at home when the fire started.
A 19-year-old Ukrainian woman, Yura, said she and others on Lendrick Street were terrified. She described escaping through a back door with her dog after the neighbouring house caught fire and the front door had to be forced open to prevent the flames spreading. She and neighbours also tried to rescue a dog trapped inside another home. Yura said she was able to stay with friends that night.
Longtime residents expressed shock. Anselme Shima, who has lived in east Belfast for 13 years, said he felt devastated and horrified and worried about protecting his children. Pastor Jack McKee, who was assisting people affected around the Crumlin Road in north Belfast, said some of those he was helping had been with his church for decades and were being targeted. “They’re good Christian people and they’re getting put out just because they’re black,” he said.
Healthcare workers from minority communities also report fear and uncertainty. Biji Jose of the Northern Ireland Indian Nurses Forum, who has lived in Northern Ireland for 23 years, said junior colleagues had been contacting her in distress and some were considering leaving the region because they no longer feel safe. She stressed that many international staff are essential to local health services and help address workforce shortages and waiting lists.
One man originally from India, now living in north Belfast, told BBC News NI he and his family had decided to leave Northern Ireland after the violence. He said he “didn’t sleep all night,” describing the streets as feeling like a “war zone,” with burning vehicles and smashed windows. He said people stayed inside, too scared to go out.
Business owners were also affected. Ozer Soy-Suren, co-owner of a Turkish barber shop in Ballyclare that has been open for 20 years, said staff spent the morning cleaning up damage after his premises was targeted. He said local residents had been supportive and checked on staff after the attack.
Emergency services battled multiple fires as police worked to contain disorder in several areas. In one case, a family had to be rescued from a burning home. Images from the scene showed fire crews working amid thick smoke and burning vehicles.
In the aftermath, a man from Sudan, Hadi Alodid, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over an earlier attack connected to the unrest; the victim sustained serious injuries, including the loss of an eye. The charge relates to that separate incident which also sparked protests and further disorder.
Local leaders and residents called for calm and asked what was to be gained by destructive acts that harm communities and neighbours. Many people affected emphasised the long-term impact of losing homes and belongings, the fear felt by families and workers, and the sense of insecurity growing among long-term residents and more recent arrivals alike.
