Pastor’s Home Engulfed in Flames in Apparent Arson Attack
Investigation into Paramilitary Activity Cited as Motive
A former loyalist prisoner, known as the ‘Pipe Bomb Pastor,’ narrowly escaped a firebomb attack on his west Belfast home, claiming it was a targeted attempt to silence his work investigating republican paramilitary crimes. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.
Targeted Arson Attempt
The Reverend Clifford Peeples, 55, recounted the terrifying ordeal after a petrol bomb was hurled through his living room window. The device ignited curtains and furniture, but Peeples, who has a Master’s Degree in Law, managed to extinguish the blaze using cushions before emergency services arrived. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life.
Peeples, who previously served 10 years for possession of explosives, is also known for his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, where he provided aid and military advice to the Ukraine Defence Forces. He recently received a special military medal for his contributions.
“It’s attempted murder – nothing else – and I know I’m lucky to be alive,” Peeples told the Sunday World. “The people who did this failed in their effort to kill me. I believe it was a pathetic attempt by these cowards to silence me and to curb the investigative work I do in revealing the inner workings of the Provo death squads and their agents.”
Previous Harassment
This attack follows a recent incident where a tyre on Peeples‘ car was found to have been deliberately tampered with. He believes these actions are part of a coordinated campaign against him, suggesting connections to “out-of-state intelligence services.”
An unnamed loyalist source expressed disgust at the suspected involvement of other loyalists, stating: “Anyone who knows Clifford Peeples knows that although he may have parted ways with the UVF, he has never turned his back on the loyalist cause.” The source highlighted Peeples‘ move into academia and his current investigative work as valuable assets.
Police Appeal for Information
Detective Sergeant McCallum stated, “Around 3am on Friday 25 July, police received a report that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Forthriver Road area.” Officers attended the scene and made the area safe, confirming a petrol bomb had been thrown through the living room window, causing damage.
“We are treating this attack as arson with intent to endanger life,” DS McCallum added. “Our inquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist our investigation, particularly anyone with CCTV, or dashcam footage to contact us on 101 quoting reference 141 of 25/07/25.”
The attack comes amid ongoing concerns about paramilitary activity in the region. According to a 2023 report by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, there were 13 recorded incidents of arson across Northern Ireland in that year, with specific motives often linked to paramilitary activity or intimidation tactics.
