Indians living in Northern Ireland are expressing fear after a racially-motivated arson attack destroyed a grocery store in north Belfast. In the early hours of Saturday, a former gospel hall on the Shankill Road, which had been empty for five years and was about to be transformed into an Indian supermarket, was set ablaze. According to the fire service, the fire was caused by the deliberate ignition of the roof, and the building was completely gutted.
Victim's Account
The victims are an Indian-origin couple who have lived in the UK for 18 years, the last eight of which were in Northern Ireland. The husband described the attack as heartbreaking, leaving him financially and emotionally drained. He told the BBC, "Me and my wife went there (to the building on Saturday), people were passing by honking. I don't know how to explain, but that was not a good morning. People were passing by, celebrating, laughing and shouting, honking their horns."
He noted a lack of sympathy and said he did not expect such a reaction when he moved to Northern Ireland. "It's a racist hate crime. I started feeling the people's reaction a few weeks ago. People's reactions stemming from the other roads. They were not welcoming. I have found them very aggressive," he added. He revealed that he had spent his entire life savings on purchasing the space and now has nothing left. "I have two children. A small family here, we are on our own. We have nothing now, everything is drained. I have to think about how to feed my kids… I don't know who is going to come out to help us, to protect us," he said.
Community Fear
Dr. Satyavir Singhal, chairman of the Indian Community Centre, shared that people are scared after the attack. "People are calling and asking how things are," and "Is this area safe?" Singhal, who has lived in the country for 25 years, noted that the Indian community has been present since the 1930s and has never encountered such a problem before.
Gerry Carroll, an assembly member for People Before Profit, said that migrant communities are stockpiling food because they are "fearful of another summer of unrest."
Police Response
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson stated that the building had been purchased by legitimate business people who would have brought jobs to the local community. "As with any crime motivated by hate, we will be providing them with an enhanced level of supervision, investigation and support. As a Police Service, we do not underestimate the impact hate-related crimes have on victims, their families and wider communities."
Context
Ireland is home to approximately 90,000 Indians working in vital sectors such as healthcare, IT, and engineering. While the country has long been known for its welcoming atmosphere, there have been cases of brutal racist attacks in recent years.
