Falls Road Middle Eastern supermarket to close after attack

The owner of a Middle Eastern supermarket on the Falls Road says he has “no choice” but to close it as a result of disorder on Tuesday night.

Moustafa Wartty has lived in England since 2002 but has businesses in Belfast.

His supermarket on the Falls Road was attacked at about 18:10 BST after a large group of young people started throwing eggs.

A teenager was left with minor facial injuries after the attack, which police are treating as a hate crime.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, common assault and criminal damage.

Mr Wartty said the shop, which will close at the weekend, was also attacked in January and February this year.

“We would like to save staff and our customers and ourselves from the risk and need to close down the shop due to the attack,” he told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show

“It’s not the first time, not the second time.”

A 14-year-old boy was cautioned for offences such as common assault, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: “I have no doubt this was a terrifying incident for the young victim.”

ACC Jones said a large group from the local community were outside the store “to diffuse the situation”.

It is understood the boy suffered a cut to his lip.

The Sinn Féin MP for the area, Paul Maskey, told BBC News NI it was “an unwarranted and disgraceful attack”.

Mr Maskey said some of the young people involved were “very, very young indeed” and called for parents to check on their children.

“The community came out to stand shoulder-to-shoulder” with the shop owner after the attack, Mr Maskey added.

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty said there was an “incredible show of community solidarity” after the attack, while People Before Profit’s Gerry Carroll said the attack was awful.

It comes after a number of businesses in other parts of the city were targeted during violent protests.

Disorder broke out after an anti-immigration protest at Belfast City Hall on Saturday.

“The scenes we have been seeing across Belfast over the last few days have been a disgrace and have no place in Northern Ireland,” said ACC Jones.

“We continue to engage with the groups affected by this criminality and hope these arrests show the community that we are taking action.

“Our Public Order Enquiry Team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.”

The officer added that the PSNI has set up a Major Incident Public Portal, external for people to submit information, images and footage which they have gathered by mobile phone, dash cam or CCTV.