Young boy injured in ‘hate crime’ as owner of Middle Eastern Market ‘forced to move businesses out of Belfast’

A young boy sustained facial injuries after being assaulted by a gang of up to 10 youths on the Falls Road at around 6.10pm on Tuesday.

A PSNI spokesperson said a large group of young people had been throwing eggs at the shop.

“During the incident, a young boy had been assaulted by up to 10 youths.

“He sustained a minor facial injury in this assault which is being treated as a hate crime.”

Footage of the incident is circulating online and appears to show some of the young people throwing objects at staff.

Businessman Ali Moustafa Wartty told the Belfast Telegraph “I have to close” as he said similar incidents had occurred since the beginning of the year.

“It’s been happening since January,” he said.

“We have been attacked many times and the police cannot protect our property.

“We have reported it many times – sometimes the police come and sometimes they do not.”

Mr Wartty, who is based in England, said he previously expressed concerns there was a racist motivation for the repeated attacks.

“I met with an officer and said it is definitely a hate crime because no other shops are attacked in the area,” he added.

“They have been singling us out.

“Police said they cannot do anything – it’s very difficult for me, I have a number of businesses in Belfast and I will have to move them.

“I’m very disappointed in Belfast.”

Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran Beattie said the man challenged suspected shoplifters before being set upon.

“The attack on a local shopkeeper on the Falls Road tonight was completely unwarranted and disgraceful,” he posted on social media.

“Youths attempted to steal items from the shop and when challenged, workers in the store were subsequently attacked.

“This has been reported to police and they are now investigating.

“If anyone has information on the attack they should bring it to the PSNI.”

Mr Beattie said his party and community activists have spoken with the workers.

“We will continue to have a presence on the ground and keep in touch with the owner,” he added.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll commended local residents for coming to the defence of “a migrant-owned business”.

“A group of young people launched an attack but were quickly dispersed by residents in the area,” he said.

“Everyone I speak to in our community is disgusted by this shocking incident.

“It is deeply concerning to see young people swept up in such behaviour, especially when we have seen such sickening and widespread attacks on minorities in recent days.

“I would appeal to all young people and everyone else to desist from these types of attacks, and to stand for diversity, inclusion, and a welcome west Belfast.

“While tonight’s attack was awful, it is representative of a minority and I commend the immediate response of the community.

“Scores of residents and community activists, including People Before Profit members, turned out to support the shop at short notice.

“We must state in no uncertain terms that migrants and all minorities are welcome here and that we will not tolerate such attacks on our neighbours.”

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty praised the “Incredible show of community solidarity” following the attack.

“A strong message sent that we won’t tolerate this behaviour,” he posted on X.

“I have met with police and they are currently acting upon information provided to them regarding those involved.”

Lord Kilcooney was among those to acknowledge the intervention of the local community.

“Well done by people of the Falls tonight!” he posted on social media.

Meanwhile Sean Doherty from Beechmount Residents Collective expressed concerns that young people are being influenced by what they have witnessed on social media in recent days.

“It’s worrying for everybody,” he said.

“Especially with high tensions in the city.

“It’s brought in that fear ‘is this going to escalate?”

Police have appealed to anyone with information or who witnessed the assault to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1284 06/08/24.