By Phil Coleman

Last updated at 12:01, Wednesday, 25 January 2012

A Carlisle restaurant boss fears that a spate of vandal attacks on his business over more than two years may be racially motivated.

Ata Miah

The award-winning Indigo Indian restaurant in Denton Street has had its sign damaged and obscene words spray painted on the front of the building in the latest attack at 7.20am on January 10.

The attack is just the latest in a series which date back of January 2010.

Staff at the restaurant had hoped that CCTV images may have helped to trap the culprits but they say police have now told them the images are not good enough.

In October, in a similar incident, vandals covered the same restaurant in unsightly graffiti using red paint. Eggs were also lobbed at the windows and the sign outside the restaurant was damaged.

Some staff believe the same group of people is responsible for all of the vandalism over recent years. They point out that their restaurant has been the only business targeted.

Ata Miah , one of the managers at the restaurant, said yesterday: “The police say they can’t recognise the people who are seen on the video images of the incident. We would like to pay to have the images improved so that there is a better chance of recognising these people. I believe what is happening may be racist because they are only targeting our restaurant.

“This latest attack happened at 7.20am, and there were people around but so far nobody has come forward.”

Mr Miah added: “They’ve also thrown some kind of chemical on the window, which has made the plastic bubble. It’s going to cost thousands to repair all the damage.”

In the past, staff at the restaurant have said the trouble had not affected trade. Mr Miah believes the attacks will continue until the people responsible are caught by police.

First published at 11:26, Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk