Attack on shop 'may be racist'

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 22:03

ARSONISTS have caused around £70,000 worth of damage in a suspected racist attack on an Islamic charity shop in Glasgow.

Owners of the Islamic Relief store in Pollokshields said the incident followed threatening phone calls made during its Gaza emergency appeal in January.

The attack last Thursday damaged the front of the building and part of the inside. The stock is unusable and the shop will be closed for up to three months.

Police are treating the blaze as willful fireraising and have not ruled out the possibility it was a racist incident. They are searching for two white men aged 18-25 in connection with the fire.

Politicians and leading Islamic figures condemned the attack as "despicable" and said it was lucky no-one was injured as there are flats above.

Habib Malik, Scotland area manager for Islamic Relief, said: "We are an apolitical charity, we do not take sides in any conflict and simply act to help alleviate people's suffering.

"Unfortunately, due to the fact we have the word 'Islamic' in our name, we are often an easy target for certain racist and Islamaphobic groups and individuals."

Local MSP and deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "I know that this shocking incident will have disgusted many members of the Pollokshields and Glasgow community."