‘Scared’ nurse to leave Northern Ireland

A Belfast nurse has said she will leave Northern Ireland when her contract ends because of recent unrest.

The Indian nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, told BBC News NI she was “scared” and “families are really scared”.

This comes after A number of businesses in south Belfast have been targeted during violent protests.

“I’m afraid to come to the hospital to work,” the nurse said.

“I don’t go out, I work and we are all afraid.

“You can’t go out shopping. It’s scary to go out with kids. It’s really terrifying.”

The nurse, who has been here for two and a half years, said she chose Northern Ireland because there were jobs available but added she would not stay longer than necessary.

“When my contract is over, I will return to my country. I will return to India,” she said.

“It’s not normal here, we have no support, just a few friends and colleagues, but that’s it.”

Speaking about the attacks, she said she did not understand why they were happening.

“I don’t know exactly what their motivation is. From my point of view, I treat everyone the same, and I don’t know why they don’t treat us the same.

“Maybe I was just helping your grandfather, and we were doing our job, and I wonder why this is happening and why we are being targeted.”

A butcher at a supermarket hit by the unrest said his business had “lost everything”.

Jamal Ghabes, who works at Sham supermarket on Donegall Road, arrived in Northern Ireland from Syria three years ago.

“Everything is gone, we have lost everything, we have nothing left,” he said.

“I don’t feel safe here, but my country isn’t safe either.”

The supermarket was targeted during the unrest on Saturday nightwhich broke out after an anti-immigration protest in the city.

Attempts have also been made to burn down the company on Monday night But officers managed to extinguish the small fire before it spread.

Mr Ghabes said he was unsure whether he wanted to continue living in Northern Ireland.

Violent unrest has taken place in cities across the UK since last Tuesday, following the murder of three young girls in Southport.

False allegations were then spread on social media that someone who had arrived in the UK illegally was responsible.

A representative from the Belfast Islamic Centre, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC News NI his community felt “quite vulnerable”.

“People don’t feel safe at all,” he said, adding that some women and children were afraid to go out and were afraid to use public transport.

He said the centre currently has a constant police presence and 24-hour private security, but he knows this is not sustainable.

“We want this madness to stop and people to be able to return to normal lives.”

He said anti-immigration concerns should be expressed to the government, not to individual communities.

“Unfortunately, people who are trying to make a living are being affected,” he said.

“Some of them have already lost their entire lives in their home countries before deciding to settle here and now they are also under attack. It is a really difficult situation.”

He acknowledged that the current situation was “incredibly difficult” for police and called for a community effort to help resolve the situation.

Police have come under sustained attack and the victim of an alleged hate crime is in serious condition in hospital after violence erupted on Monday night.

Witnesses reported seeing attackers stamping on a man’s head, while members of the public tried to protect him.

Several Molotov cocktails, masonry shells and bricks were thrown at the police.

Petrol was also poured on a Land Rover and set alight.

Deputy Chief Constable Melanie Jones said “more than 100 people were involved” in the disturbances.

The officers fired two baton shots, and one person was hit in the hand.

ACC Jones told BBC News NI they had “a calming effect”.

She added that baton rounds were also used. during the mess on Saturdaywhich was a first in several years.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remains in police custody.

Earlier on Monday, four men were charged in connection with the unrest on Saturday.