People were celebrating as my business burned down: Indian entrepreneur in Belfast says he didn't expect this much hatred

An Indian businessman who dreamed of opening his grocery store in an abandoned building in Belfast that he purchased has been left with nothing after some people intentionally set the building on fire. The arson at a former Gospel Hall on the Shankill Road began in the early hours of Saturday. The owner who bought it last year and was preparing to open an Indian supermarket said he did not expect to face this kind of racism in Ireland, where he had been living for 18 years.

"My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on," he said.

"Everything is just gone and burnt out," he added.

Police confirmed that it was arson, a deliberate ignition to the roof.

The Indian-origin business owner did not want to reveal his name as he spoke to the BBC. He said people were celebrating that the building was gutted. "My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on," he said.

“There was no sympathy. This is the world I didn’t expect when we moved here. It’s a racist hate crime. I started feeling the people’s reaction a few weeks ago. People’s reactions standing from the other roads. They were not welcoming. I have found them very aggressive.

“There was premises for sale, and that was good enough for our business. There was no particular reason for the Shankill area, it was just a building for sale in the city. That is my life savings. I am totally drained emotionally, financially and mentally. I didn’t sleep last night, and I am not in mental condition to even speak.

“You can’t understand what I am going through. I have two children. A small family here, we are on our own. We have nothing now, everything is drained. I have to think about how to feed my kids… I don’t know who is going to come out to help us, to protect us.

“I was just trying to open a business. Now I don’t feel safe to even stand there. We came to Northern Ireland to make it our home… now I have no idea what I am going to do. My brain is not working… I am too scared.”
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