UMVA has learned that a 74-year-old man, Jack McKee, risked his life to rescue two women trapped in their home amidst a chaotic scene of rioting and arson in Belfast.
The dramatic events unfolded as petrol bombs were thrown, homes were set on fire, and rioters shouted for the women, who were allegedly migrants. Jack's son, Jonathan, revealed that the family received a distressing text at midnight warning them that the home of one of their congregation members was being targeted by far-right extremists.
Without hesitation, Jack and his family rushed to the scene, finding the two women cowering in fear. The neighboring property was ablaze, with flames creeping towards their home, while rioters hurled objects through the windows and doors, causing extensive damage.
Jack, along with his family and the fire service, helped carry the women to safety, laying one of them in the back seat of his car. The heroic actions have left the women unable to return home, with Jack's family now working to secure their safety and repair the damaged property.
The violent unrest spread across Belfast, with rioters torching buses, setting homes alight, and hurling petrol bombs. In a separate incident, around 100 supporters of Tommy Robinson gathered in London's Parliament Square, calling for police to take the knee.
The tensions arose after a man, Stephen Ogilvie, was allegedly stabbed in the face by Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid. During his court hearing, Alodid was charged with attempting to murder Ogilvie, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife, and was remanded for four weeks.
As authorities and politicians urge calm, social media posts continue to circulate, planning further protests and fueling concerns of escalating violence.
