At least three Bangladeshi families in Belfast have had their homes attacked and vandalized by anti-immigrant protesters. The families, comprising 11 members, have been evacuated to temporary housing under police protection. The attacks occurred on Tuesday night in the Tiger's Bay area of North Belfast. The families are currently unable to return to their homes due to ongoing safety concerns.
One of the affected families, represented by Alimur Rahman, described the sudden attack on their home. 'We were inside the house when a group of people surrounded it and started attacking and vandalizing. When the attackers became more aggressive, we had to leave the house within minutes. The police then came and took us to a safe place,' Rahman said.
The violence in Belfast was triggered by the stabbing of a 40-year-old man on Monday, for which a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker was arrested. This incident quickly spread on social media, leading to anti-immigration protests that turned violent. Protesters have attacked homes, vehicles, and businesses, forcing several immigrant families to leave their neighborhoods for safety. Police have made several arrests and are investigating to identify those involved in the violence.
Political leaders in Northern Ireland have condemned the violence and called for calm. Additional police have been deployed across Belfast to control the situation.
