A Belfast woman has recounted how she helped a family escape after protesters stormed their home during widespread unrest that erupted across the city following a stabbing attack. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the family would have been 'beaten to a pulp' if the mob had forced their way inside while hurling fireworks.
Escape from the Shankill Road Area
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in the Shankill Road area of Belfast, where a mob attempted to drive a man, his wife, and their teenage daughter from their property. The woman intervened as 'sporadic pockets of disorder' flared up across several locations after demonstrations sparked by Monday night's stabbing attack.
Protesters caused chaos throughout the city, torching a bus, businesses, and homes, forcing firefighters to evacuate residents. Speaking to Sky News, the woman recalled, 'I could just see them all going into the house. I don't know how I did it but I stopped every one of them from going into the bedroom.' She described the family as 'really, really scared.'
Confronting the Demonstrators
The woman then confronted the demonstrators, insisting the family had no connection to the stabbing. She said, 'I just said, come out with me, I'll help you, just come with me... I walked out with them and I could see people looking at me.' She continued, 'We just kept walking and walked right out of the street with them and walked right around the corner.'
She firmly believes that without her intervention, 'something really bad would have happened. I think they would have been beaten to a pulp. To be honest, I dread to think what would have happened.' Reflecting on the events, she drew parallels with disturbances in Northern Ireland last year, saying, 'You're thinking, what's going to happen and what's the worst that can happen? I was the only person there that actually stopped it.'
Pastor Condemns Attacks on Innocent People
A pastor who has been assisting those attacked in the Crumlin Road vicinity, where multiple properties were set ablaze, denounced the aggression towards 'innocent people.' He told the BBC that residents are being driven from their homes 'because they're black.' Pastor Jack McKee stated that some congregation members 'who have been with us for 20 years' were 'getting put out of their home, had their house attacked, windows smashed, houses beside them burned.'
'They're good Christian people and they're getting put out just because they're black,' he added. 'I'm doing my best to help them, it's as simple as that.' He informed the BBC that 'obviously we're all disgusted' following Monday's knife assault, but emphasized that 'this doesn't help anyone.' McKee suggested that those displaced will 'probably' be unable to return to the neighbourhood, stressing that 'innocent people' are suffering: 'Men, women, children that are living in fear because of what some idiot did last night. I'm angry and I'm disappointed that this is the response of people in our community.'
Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder
A 30-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of carrying out the knife assault and subsequently charged with attempted murder. He faces additional charges of possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill. He is scheduled to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The victim, a man in his 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday, being treated for serious eye, face, and back wounds.
