Northern Ireland

Owner of café destroyed during violent disturbances changes mind on re-opening after outpouring of support and donations

Mohammad Ali Idris believed his Bash café business was finished as he watched the premises go up in flames but now has plans to re-open, though discussing different location

South Belfast anti immigration anti muslim loyalist riots racist racism
The destroyed Bash Café on the Donegall Road
By John Breslin

A south Belfast café destroyed during the anti-immigration disturbances will re-open following an outpouring of support and a flood of donations, but it might have to relocate over fears of further attacks.

Owner Mohammad Ali Idris watched from home as his Donegall Road café burned down overnight on Saturday and immediately concluded the business was finished.

But a fundraising campaign for five of the damaged businesses that has so far raised more than £130,000 from more than 7,000 donations has persuaded Mr Idris to change his mind.

Four café/restaurants and one supermarket sustained damage as a crowd clashed with police on Saturday in the Botanic Avenue area.

Scenes around the Bash Cafe on Donegall Road in south Belfast
Windows smashed at Bash before it was later destroyed (Rebecca Black/PA)

All the businesses are owned by people who have migrated to the north.

Mr Idris said he was upstairs with customers when windows of the café were smashed during the disturbances earlier on Saturday. They even called his name, shouting: “Where is Mohammad?”

“Unfortunately overnight they came back again and they burned the café completely.,” Mr Idris told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme.

“The very first when I saw my business burn completely when I was at home and some friends sent me a video I immediately said I should close down,” he added.

But then came the support and the donations through GoFundMe and this changed his mind.

Damage caused to businesses and cars in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row area of South Belfast following overnight violence. PICTURES: Mal MCCANN
Damage caused to businesses and cars in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row area of South Belfast following the weekend violence. PICTURE: Mal MCCANN

“That is a brighter side of this story,” Mr Idris said.

“I am impressed by all kinds of support I have received from people locally and internationally. I see the solidarity and kindness, the generosity of the people. This has changed my mind

“After I see how people are supporting me from everywhere, people like Stephen, I don’t know, I have never met him.”

Organiser Stephen Montgomery said discussions are ongoing with Belfast City Council and local representatives over how the money should be distributed to the local businesses.

Mr Montgomery, from Belfast but Liverpool-based, said the discussions include whether Bash will re-open at the same location at the corner of Donegall Road and Sandy Row or can find another nearby location where, he said, it is less likely “they are just going to get burnt out again”.