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Human toll of Belfast riots: from infant to elderly, families flee violence

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Severe riots erupted in Belfast, targeting migrant and foreign-background families, causing widespread destruction.
  • Homes, cars, and buses were set ablaze, forcing dozens of families to flee their residences.
  • Political leaders condemned the violence, calling it shocking and unacceptable, as police increased their presence and made arrests.

Belfast experienced a night of intense violence and destruction, with riots targeting migrant and foreign-background families, leaving a trail of devastation.

I had to flee through the back door. Terrifying.

— 19-year-old womanDescribing her escape from her home after her front door was set on fire during the riots.

Hundreds of masked individuals went on a rampage, setting fire to homes, cars, and buses. The attacks were deliberately aimed at residences believed to be occupied by migrants. A family of African descent, who had lived in Belfast for 20 years, had their windows smashed and are currently unable to return to their damaged home. A 19-year-old Ukrainian woman described fleeing her home in terror as flames from a neighbor's burning house spread to her front door.

The chaos forced at least eight families to seek emergency accommodation. Even a two-month-old baby had to be rescued by police amidst the unrest. Police Commissioner Jon Boutcher described the perpetrators as "mindless idiots" and noted that families from all walks of life became victims of this "appalling behavior."

Families from all walks of life were victims of this appalling behaviour last night.

— Jon BoutcherPolice Commissioner, speaking about the impact of the riots.

Political leaders strongly condemned the violence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the chaos "shocking and completely unacceptable." Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill echoed these sentiments, labeling the rioters as "disgustingly cowardly" for burning families out of their homes.

What does this solve?

— Jamie CorrieA resident of East Belfast, questioning the purpose of the violence after his car and house were set on fire.

In response to the unrest, police have deployed an additional 200 officers and have arrested three suspects. The BBC reported hearing rioters shouting "foreigners out" as they moved through the city, smashing windows and setting bins on fire. The scale of the damage is significant, with residents questioning the purpose and outcome of such destructive actions.

Shocking and completely unacceptable.

— Keir StarmerBritish Prime Minister, commenting on the riots.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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