East Belfast Church Fire Investigated as Hate Crime

An arson attack on a church in East Belfast is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime. The incident occurred on Templemore Street around 9:30 PM on August 27, when two masked men used an angle-grinder to cut through the church's shutters and threw a flammable substance inside, igniting a fire. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, which caused damage to the shutters, the front hall, and further smoke damage inside the building. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is appealing for information, particularly from anyone with dashcam or doorbell footage. No arrests have been made, and investigators are seeking public assistance to identify the suspects who fled the scene. This attack is part of a worrying trend of racially motivated crimes in the area.