Police hate crime probe over refugee centre attacks

Police are investigating two hate crime attacks on a refugee centre within a fortnight.

The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) centre in Bootle, Merseyside, was targeted on Saturday, when the front window was smashed.

The incident comes less than two weeks after the refugee support charity on Hawthorne Road suffered a similar attack, in which the front window was broken and what was suspected to be dog faeces smeared on the front door.

Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE ACAA director said the attacks were "deeply concerning" and volunteer Rabia Nasimi said that while staff had been scared, the attack was not going to stop the centre from promoting "united communities".

Dr Nasimi told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Refugee and migrant organisations should never be a target. Given that this has now happened for a second time, we can only see this as a deliberate act.

"This is deeply concerning, and we urge authorities to take swift action to ensure the safety of our staff and those we support."

After the first attack, Ms Nasimi, said: "This impacts the staff and volunteers' morale, because even if we are to continue our services, if we are a target, people that work within the office are understandably scared and upset.

"We welcome the local community to come and talk to us and we're not going to let this incident stop us from our mission and that's to promote united communities."

She added: "It's really important we raise awareness that this is a isolated incident, but it doesn't represent Merseyside. We're committed to continue supporting people."

In the aftermath of the first incident, a Sefton Council spokesperson offered to provide additional support to the ACAA and said: "We fully support the fantastic work of the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association and they are one of many community focused groups that do everything to help make our neighbourhoods better."

Merseyside Police said: "At this stage the circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear but the matter has been referred to the hate crime team to give advice and offer any further support."

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