Sandy Row: Belfast fire treated as racially-motivated hate crime
- Published
The blaze started at about 3:35 BST on Friday
Police are treating a fire in Belfast as a racially-motivated hate crime.
Emergency services attended the blaze at a business in Sandy Row at about 03:35 BST on Friday.
PSNI Supt Finola Dorna said no one was injured but "significant damage and disruption was caused".
Police are keen to speak to two males who were seen in the area at the time, who were described as wearing all-black clothing and travelling on foot in the direction of Schomberg Drive.
Police said significant damage was caused
"I would appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything, or who may have dashcam, CCTV, or other footage, to contact us," Supt Dornan added.
The African and Caribbean Support Organisation NI (ACSONI) said Bash Technology Services has been subjected to "six distressing incidents" over a two-month period.
"These attacks included painting over the business sign in late June, two separate instances of smashing the business windows glass in July, a trash bin fire ignited to the office door, stolen business sign in July and an arson attack on the office in August," it said.
ACSONI added that "the cumulative impact of these attacks has led to an estimated loss of £30,000 encompassing property damage, inventory loss and business disruption".
It said the business is owned by a refugee who set it up through a Job Centre initiative in 2015.
"We unequivocally condemn these attacks and offer solidarity with the business owner and staff," ACSONI added.
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