Church leaders and politicians condemn those behind Belfast church race hate attack
The community of east Belfast came together on Wednesday to condemn a racist attack on a church.
The DUP leader and MP for the area Gavin Robinson told UTV there could never be a justification for violence.
"It is not justified today just because someone looks different to me," he said.
The East Belfast Churches Network also condemned the attack.
Police said two men used an angle-grinder to cut a hole in the shutters of the Templemore Street church building before throwing a flammable substance inside and lighting it.
They fled when they triggered an alarm. This happened around 9.30pm on Tuesday.
Police are treating the incident as a racially motivated hate crime and have appealed for information.
It is the latest in a series of racist incidents across the city in recent weeks.
Rev Sammy Robinson, Chair of the East Belfast Churches Network, said: "We unequivocally condemn the arson attack on the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) HelpCentre last night.
"Let us be clear; racism has no place in our community.
"We are deeply saddened that this has happened, especially to a church and organisation which seeks to help people regardless of race or creed here in east Belfast.
"The action of a few will not be allowed to tarnish the good name of ordinary, every day people of east Belfast who would stand with us in condemning this attack.
"We would implore anyone with any information to cooperate with the police in their investigation, and we send our unwavering support, prayers and love to those involved in UCKG HelpCentre Belfast.
The church, first founded in Brazil in 1977, has congregations across the world, including 45 in the UK. It has been present in Northern Ireland since 2012 and at the site on Templemore Street since 2018. Its congregation has been described as diverse.
On Wednesday morning, workmen were at the church assessing damage to the building.
Rev Mervyn Gibson of the nearby Westbourne Presbyterian Church condemned the incident, saying all arson attacks are wrong.
“I condemn it unreservedly,” he said. “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.”
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