A racist attack on a Belfast church used by foreign nationals has been linked to a self-styled far-right ‘Protestant militia’.
Arsonists used an angle-grinder to gain access to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) on Templemore Street last week, pouring petrol around the premises and setting it on fire.
A major blaze was only prevented by quick-thinking neighbours who called the emergency services after seeing flames at the premises of the Christian place of worship.
Loyalist sources have blamed the attack on a self-styled Protestant militia, which they believe has around 20 members. They say this loose amalgamation of thugs is linked to the hate-filled social media accounts encouraging recent anti-immigration violence.
UVF and UDA sources have accused the group’s leaders of also being behind the anti-(NI) Protocol trouble that saw a bus burned by young rioters on Belfast’s Shankill Road three years ago.
In scenes similar to the racist violence that engulfed south Belfast last month, the teens were encouraged to take to the streets by anonymous Facebook accounts.
Loyalist sources have identified one male, a convicted terrorist who moves between the Shankill and north Antrim, as the main antagonist.
In a worrying development his Protestant militia is understood to be trying to acquire firearms. This has not gone unnoticed by the UVF and UDA, with insiders in both organisations saying they will not tolerate the setting up of a rival paramilitary unit.
Scorch damage to the Universal Church in east Belfast
“I wouldn’t even call these people loyalists, they are religious whackos,” a UVF source told Sunday Life. “They are anti everything — the Belfast Agreement, protocol, and immigrants, even if the immigrants are Christians like those whose church was attacked in east Belfast.
“Members of this so-called militia are linked through social media, although we do know that they have met in person, there was a newspaper report about the meeting several years ago.
“They disappeared when the protocol protests died down, but they have re-emerged and were using Facebook to encourage the immigration protests last month.
“We’ve no doubt they are being controlled by individuals who are working for the State, people who are trying to connect mainstream loyalism to the immigration violence in an attempt to weaken and embarrass us.”
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The newspaper report referred to by loyalists, from 2021, contained claims about how this new Protestant militia had smuggled 50 handguns into Northern Ireland.
Its members also boasted of planning attacks on the seaport in Larne, where controversial trade protocols are enforced, and being financed. While some of the claims were far-fetched, UDA and UVF sources have confirmed they know of attempts by the rival gang to get guns.
“This will not be tolerated,” warned our UVF source ominously.
Last week’s attack on the church drew an angry response from unionist politicians who visited the complex to offer their full help and support.
DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said: “I’m disgusted by what happened here. It does not reflect the local community in which this church is based.
“They (victims) shouldn’t feel scared, in fact the people that are threatening them should feel scared about the societal response that they will get through the criminal justice system.
“There’s no church that deserves to have (people) turn up with an angle grinder and masks and cut through the centre and attempt to burn it down.”
Gavin Robinson
Rev Mervyn Gibson of the nearby Westbourne Presbyterian Church condemned the incident, saying all arson attacks are wrong.
He said: “I condemn it unreservedly. If those misguided people who did this did it in the name of racism or against immigration, it should be condemned. The people of east Belfast do not want to see racist attacks against their neighbours.”
by borschbandit