‘We dragged terrified care workers to safety as Belfast rioters swarmed their home’

Jack McKee, 74, pushed through crowds of people throwing petrol bombs and setting homes on fire to reach two women trapped inside (Picture: Metro)

Women ‘still in their care workers’ uniform’ were dragged to safety by Belfast heroes after their home was targeted by far-right rioters.

Jack McKee, 74, pushed through crowds of people throwing petrol bombs and setting homes on fire to reach two women trapped inside.

He spotted the pair, both African migrants, hiding in the corner as bricks were thrown through the windows of the property on Oakley Street.

Along with his daughter Paula, they were able to help carry them to safety as they were so scared that ‘they were too weak to stand’.

Jack’s son Jonathan told Metro : ‘They had to carry them out the back door secretly because the rioters were shouting, “Where are the migrants?”‘

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The family, who run a local church, received a text at midnight saying the home of one of their congregation members was being targeted by violent protesters.

An image Jack took, after he helped carry the women out of the house (Picture: Metro)

Jack McKee went into one of the targeted women’s homes and helped carry them to safety (Picture: Metro)

On instinct, they went to the house and found the two women, both shaking with fear.

The neighbouring property had been set on fire, with the blaze slowly creeping towards the women’s home from behind.

And from the front, rioters threw anything they could find through the windows and doors, causing extensive damage.

Jack said: ‘My family helped carry them out with the fire service and laid one of the women in the back seat of my dad’s car.

‘This is life-changing for them. They can’t go home now. We are sending someone around to board up the windows, but there are calls for more riots.’

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Last night saw widespread disorder across Belfast, with rioters throwing petrol bombs, setting homes alight, and burning buses to the ground.

In London yesterday, around 100 Tommy Robinson supporters stood in Parliament Square and ordered police to take the knee.

Protests were originally organised after a man, named locally as Stephen Ogilvie, was allegedly stabbed by Sudanese asylum seeker Hadi Alodid.

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During his first court hearing today at Belfast Magistrates’ Court, Alodid was remanded for four weeks and charged with attempting to murder Mr Ogilvie, threatening to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.

Police and politicians have called for calm as more social media posts planning further protests circulate this morning.

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