Barber shop owner vows to continue after attack

The Syrian owner of a barber shop damaged in a weekend attack which police are treating as a hate crime has insisted it will not drive him out of business.

Mohamad Alaya, owner of Skin Fade Syrian Barber’s in Drumahoe, County Londonderry, said the shop, its windows and front doors were smashed with stones just a week after it opened.

“I have been living in Northern Ireland and working for 10 years, but this is the first time something like this has happened to us,” Mr Alaya said.

Police said the attack happened sometime after 23:00 BST on Saturday.

Mr Alaya said the attack on his business would not deter him from working and serving the Waterside community.

“We had just opened the shop recently, and we were surprised on Sunday morning when we got a text to say that the windows had been smashed.

“Some stones smashed the windows and we phoned the police.

“We can’t do much about it.”

Mr Alaya said he had been overwhelmed by the “incredible support” from the Waterside community since the attack.

He said local people had rallied around him and his team.

“A lot of people from this area came and said they felt sorry for us and said they will support us and help us,” he said.

“They told us not to give in and people even offered to help clean the shop up and remove the glass.

“We just have to continue, fix it now and keep going.”

Mr Alaya said he and his staff were determined to reopen as soon as possible.

“We don’t harm anyone; we help this area. We provide a service in this area by cutting people’s hair.

“Whatever religion, whatever colour of skin, it doesn’t matter – everybody needs a haircut.

“We will keep going. We will fix the shop. Whatever they did, we will continue.”