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Barber says he will stay open after 'hate' attack

Mike McBride
BBC News NI
BBC Mohamad Alaya is standing in his barber shop in Drumahoe. He has dark black hair and beard. He is wearing a green fleece and blue jumper. A number of barber chairs can be seen in the background.BBC
Mohamad Alaya, owner of Skin Fade Syrian Barber's in Drumahoe, says the shop windows were smashed just a week after it opened

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.

Skin Fade Syrian Barbers A front window of the barber shop has two large holes with smashed glass. A door with two window panes is also damaged in two placesSkin Fade Syrian Barbers
Skin Fade Syrian Barber's in Drumahoe sustained extensive damage during the attack

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."

Skin Fade Syrian Barber's Smashed glass can be seen on the floor with a number of balloons and tape around two barber chairs. A number of boxes can also be seen in the store. Skin Fade Syrian Barber's
Smashed glass pictured on the barber shop floor following the attack at the weekend

Support from Waterside community

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."