An Indian-origin businessman has been targeted in Belfast as the supermarket he was soon to open was set on fire in an arson attack. (Image: Irish News)
An Indian businessman who dreamed of opening his own grocery store in an abandoned building in Belfast that he bought had nothing left after some people deliberately set fire to the building.
The arson attack began at the former Gospel Hall on Shankill Road in the early hours of Saturday. The owner, who bought it last year and was preparing to open an Indian supermarket, said he did not expect to encounter this kind of racism in Ireland, where he had lived for 18 years.“I invested my whole life in this and we didn’t have insurance on it because the electrical work was ongoing,” he said.He added: “Everything was gone and burned.”Police confirmed it was arson, an intentional ignition of the roof.The Indian-origin employer did not want to reveal his name while speaking to the BBC. He said people were celebrating the destruction of the building. “I invested my whole life in this and we didn’t have insurance on it because the electrical work was ongoing,” he said.“There was no compassion. This is the world I didn’t expect when we moved here.”
It is a racist hate crime. I started feeling people’s reactions a few weeks ago. People’s reactions stand out from other methods. They were not welcoming. I found them very aggressive.“There was a place for sale, and that was good enough for our business. There was no specific reason for the Shankill area, it was just a building for sale in the town. This is my life savings. I’m completely exhausted emotionally, financially and mentally.”
I didn’t sleep last night, and I’m not in the right state to talk.“You can’t understand what I’m going through. I have two children. A small family here, we’re on our own. We have nothing now, everything is depleted. I have to think about how to feed my children… I don’t know who will come to help us and protect us.“I was just trying to open a business. Now I don’t feel safe even standing there. We came to Northern Ireland to make it our home… and now I have no idea what I’m going to do. My mind isn’t working… I’m so scared.”
