Arson Destroys Indian Grocery Store Premises in North Belfast
An Indian grocery store, scheduled to open in the coming months, was destroyed in a fire that police have classified as a racially-motivated arson attack in north Belfast.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday at a former Gospel Hall located on the Shankill Road.
The owner, who purchased the building last year, expressed deep heartbreak over the incident.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that the building was "totally gutted" by the blaze.
The owner, who chose to remain anonymous, has lived in Northern Ireland for 18 years.
"My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on,"he said.
"I have no words to describe how I am feeling. Everything is just gone and burnt out."
The fire service confirmed to police that the fire was caused by "deliberate ignition to the roof."
Supt Finola Dornan commented on the incident, stating:
"This out-of-use building had been bought by legitimate business people who would have brought jobs to the local community."
She added that the police would provide the owner with supervision, investigation, and support, as they do with "any crime motivated by hate."
"We do not underestimate the impact hate-related crimes have on victims, their families and wider communities,"Dornan said.
She further noted that while police play a crucial role in preventing hate crimes, it remains "a wider societal issue which cannot be resolved by policing alone."
Three fire appliances attended the scene and departed around 5:00 BST.
Police received a report just after 02:45 BST that there was a fire at an old Gospel Hall on the Shankill Road.
Community Reaction and Political Response
Brian Kingston, DUP assembly member for north Belfast, described the attack as "utterly appalling."
He explained that the former church building had closed approximately five years ago.
"No-one wanted to take it on since,"he told NI.
"There are many people seeking to regenerate the Shankill Road, to bring derelict buildings back into use."
"This totally undermines this work."
"The vast majority of the people on the Shankill are opposed to arson attacks and opposed to attacks on anyone."
"Those responsible have done a great disservice to this community."
