Supermarket reduced to ‘ashes’ amid Belfast mayhem, manager says – The Irish News

A supermarket manager in Belfast said his business has been reduced to “ashes” after it was targeted by riots in the city.

Bashir criticized police for their response to the violence and said Muslim businesses were being deliberately targeted.

A clean-up operation was underway in the Donegall Road area on Sunday morning following disturbances that lasted several hours the previous night.

There was evidence of several fires on the road, with trash bins and some vehicles burned out.

Bashir, who declined to give his last name, and his staff were removing remaining stock from his grocery store, which was set ablaze on Saturday night. The front and interior of the business were extensively damaged.

He said he had been in business for three years and this was the third time he had been targeted.

He told the PA news agency: “A lot of things have happened… it’s against the Muslim community.

“Well, you can say there is nothing (left), it is all dead, there is nothing left, just some ashes.

“People attacked this place, racism against Islam and Muslims, especially the Muslim community.”

Asked if he would be able to reopen his business, he said: “I don’t know, we have to ask the police about that.

“When they stop all this, then we will talk about it.

“All this happened and the police did nothing, I’m telling you the truth.

“What kind of police are letting people burn everything?

“I don’t know where the safety is in this, it’s all rubbish.”

The business owner was clearly emotional when asked about his reaction to the attack on his store.

He said: “How do I feel? I can’t describe it, mind blank, we couldn’t even sleep (last night), the words, I can’t even describe what happened to be honest.

“There is no message for people like that.

“When people do this, when people do something like this, do you think they will accept the message?”

Across the street from the supermarket, a cafe appeared to have been completely destroyed by fire. The sign for Bash Cafe offers Arabic coffee and falafels.

Windows were broken at the establishment and the interior was extensively damaged by smoke and fire.

Northern Ireland’s Fire and Rescue Service said it attended a burning shop and cafe on Donegall Road on Saturday night. It said the cause of both fires had been determined to be deliberate.