‘They don’t want us to feel safe’ – businesses pick up the pieces after overnight violence in south Belfast

A supermarket owner in Belfast said his business had been reduced to “ashes” after it was targeted during disorder in the city.

Abdelkader Al Alloush, who fled the war in Syria, said he spent three years building his supermarket business in south Belfast.

He said it was gone in less than three hours on Saturday.

“Everything we built is gone,” he said.

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The unit on Donegall Road had been vacant for more than a decade up until 2020.

A clean-up operation was under way in the area on Sunday following unrest which lasted for several hours the night before.

There was evidence of a number of fires on the road, with bins and some vehicles burnt out.

Businesses in Botanic Avenue, Donegall Road and Sandy Row were targeted during the violence.

Bash Café on Donegall Road was completely gutted after it was set on fire on Saturday night.

Mohammed Idris said the windows of his family-owned business were smashed at around 3pm on Saturday.

The Sudanese business owner, who has lived in Northern Ireland for 10 years, said he heard those involved call him out by name.

“It’s so sad and heart-breaking to see your business you established, put all your effort, your money into… Unfortunately, everything went down.

He said the premises was later set on fire.

The business owner believes police could have done more to intervene.

“Police trucks were everywhere here and people were burning the café. It’s strange.

“I saw someone holding wood and throw it inside and the police cars were here.”

Sam Yousef, a member of Belfast’s Syrian community, said they were struggling to comprehend what had happened.

“We are working hard, trying pay tax, trying to contribute to society.”

He said Saturday’s violence “was a big alarm that something is not right”.

“They don’t want us to feel safe.

“It took us back to our home where we come from, the warzone in Syria. We thought when we came here we were going to be safe.

“But when we saw this, it made us feel completely unsafe again.

Hotels and a café in the Botanic Avenue area of south Belfast were also targeted on Saturday along with a barbers shop on Sandy Row.

It’s understood several people, including young children, were inside when it was attacked.

Meanwhile, an online fundraiser has been launched in support of Sahara Shisha Café on Botanic Avenue, which was targeted on Saturday.

Around £11,000 had been raised by noon on Sunday.