Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
In north Belfast, a planned new grocery store has been destroyed in an incident police are investigating as a racially motivated arson attack. The fire erupted in the early hours of Saturday at a former Gospel Hall located on the Shankill Road. The building, which the owner purchased last year with intentions to open a business, was “totally gutted” by the blaze, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The owner, originally from India and having lived in Northern Ireland for 18 years, expressed deep devastation over the loss. Speaking about the fire, he stated, “My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on.” He added, “Everything is just gone and burnt out,” highlighting the personal and financial impact the attack has had.
The fire service confirmed that the blaze was started deliberately with ignition focused on the roof. Superintendent Finola Dornan emphasized the wider consequences of such hate-driven crimes, remarking, “This out-of-use building had been bought by legitimate business people who would have brought jobs to the local community.” She assured that policing would include supervision, investigation, and support for the victim, while acknowledging that hate crime is a complex societal issue that cannot be tackled by law enforcement alone.
Politicians have condemned the attack strongly. Brian Kingston, a DUP assembly member for North Belfast, described the incident as “utterly appalling” and stressed how it undermines efforts to regenerate the area. Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called the targeting “despicable,” particularly given the pressing need for jobs and investment. Meanwhile, SDLP councillor Carl Whyte called the fire “devastating,” noting that ordinary families working to support themselves had been severely affected by the destruction
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.