Residents flee after overnight violence in east Belfast
Families in Belfast were forced to leave their homes during a night of unrest that followed a knife attack on Monday. Several houses across the city were damaged after fires broke out during the disorder.
Among those affected was a family with a two month old baby, who had to escape as the situation escalated.
East Belfast home destroyed in blaze
A man from Lendrick Street in east Belfast said he lost the house he had lived in for 13 years after it was set on fire during the chaos.
He said the fire began after a nearby car, linked to foreign nationals, was ignited. The flames then spread quickly, leaving little time for firefighters to save the property.
By the time emergency crews arrived, the house was already fully burning and could not be saved.
“I’ll never get over it,” says homeowner
Speaking outside the remains of his home, the man said the experience left him devastated.
He described the moment he watched the house burn as something he would carry with him for life. He said the property held many personal and sentimental items that cannot be replaced.
Although he expressed anger about the wider violence, he questioned what the destruction had achieved and said it only harmed the local community further.
Community impact and ongoing concern
The unrest has left several families displaced and facing major losses. While no one from the affected household was injured, the emotional and financial damage is severe.
The resident said he was relieved his children were not inside the house at the time of the fire.
