'I don't feel like living in Belfast anymore'

Two Indian women living in Belfast said they no longer feel safe living in the city after their home was severely damaged and all their belongings destroyed during recent disorder.

Tejal Samat and Nishath Mohammed lived above the Sham Supermarket on the Donegall Road in south Belfast and were inside the property when on 9 June a gang of people set fire to a bin outside.

"We were so scared, we didn't know what to do, we were in absolute shock," Mohammed said.

Rioting broke out across Belfast following a following a knife attack, which led to people being forced to flee as houses and cars were set on fire.

Speaking to the Nolan Show, both women described how they have loved living and working in Belfast but are now afraid to go outside.

"I've been living in Belfast for the past six years, I came here as a student and I studied well, I got my job," Mohammed said.

"We were extremely happy here, Belfast is my home but after this incident we are even scared to just go to the shop next to our house."

Mohammed works as a finance associate while her flatmate Samat is a retail manager.

Samat described the night the disorder broke out as "very distressing" and "one of the worst nights I've ever had".

"We were in shock, we just couldn't process what was happening.

"I don't feel like living in Belfast anymore because of all of this. I moved here for work, I had a fantastic year and then this happened, I just don't feel like I can stay here anymore," she told the programme.

When they were evacuated from the building they sought refuge at the home of SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole then spent the night at the Whiterock Leisure Centre.

When they returned to their home, Mohammed described it as a "horrific thing to see".

"Our house, which we take care of like a temple almost, we love our home, we created our home with such love and we spent a great year – it's uninhabitable.

"Every single thing we have is affected by the smoke damage. Those are our memories, we have lost all of them," she said.

Mohammed said they were left homeless but that O'Toole has provided them with AirBnB accommodation for the next ten days.

"We have no idea what's going to happen next," she said.

Both women said that so many people have provided them with food and basic necessities since the incident.

"That shows the real people of Belfast to me, that's why we love Belfast, that's why we chose to stay here," Mohammed said.

"People here are nice, this is just a minority," Samat added.