A 74-year-old man named Jack McKee, along with his daughter Paula, bravely rescued two African women who were trapped in their home on Oakley Street in Belfast as far-right rioters attacked the property. The women, still wearing their care worker uniforms, were found hiding in a corner as bricks were thrown through the windows and petrol bombs ignited nearby.
Heroic rescue amid violent protests
Jack McKee pushed through crowds of rioters who were throwing petrol bombs and setting homes on fire to reach the terrified women. His son Jonathan explained that the women were so scared they could barely stand, forcing Jack and Paula to carry them out through the back door to avoid the rioters who were shouting, 'Where are the migrants?'
The family, who run a local church, received a text at midnight alerting them that a congregation member's home was under attack. They immediately went to the scene and found the two women shaking with fear. The neighbouring property was already on fire, with flames creeping toward the women's home from behind, while rioters hurled objects through the front windows and doors, causing extensive damage.
Aftermath and wider unrest
Jack McKee stated: 'My family helped carry them out with the fire service and laid one of the women in the back seat of my dad's car. This is life-changing for them. They can't go home now. We are sending someone around to board up the windows, but there are calls for more riots.'
The rescue occurred during widespread disorder across Belfast, where rioters threw petrol bombs, set homes alight, and burned buses to the ground. The protests were originally sparked by an alleged stabbing of a man named Stephen Ogilvie by Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid. Alodid appeared in court today and was charged with attempted murder, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife. He was remanded for four weeks.
Police and politicians have called for calm as more social media posts planning further protests circulate. The incident highlights the bravery of ordinary citizens in the face of violent extremism and the ongoing tensions in the region.
