Community 'feels under attack' after Sparkbrook Stack Shack arson
"I think the community feels under attack," he told the BBC."From speaking to the people who were saying their prayers at the time of the incident, they interpret it more as an attempt on their lives as well as being arson of the premises next door."The owners of the restaurant said they were too shaken to be interviewed, but said the fire had impacted their family, those attending the mosque next door and workers left without a job."I think the owners feel that all the hard work they've put into the premises over many years has been greatly destroyed by what's happened," Mr Fellows said."And I feel the loss of the residential accommodation is a blow to an area which is badly in need of housing."
Speaking about the impact on the community, Mr Fellows added: "I think they're very shocked, it was completely unexpected, it came completely out of the blue, it affects a relatively quiet part of the area."It's also damaged trust and confidence in the mosque as a safe place of worship and also led to the loss of a business that created a great deal of employment and had been popular with the community for many years."West Midlands Police have urged anyone with information on the arson attack to call 101, quoting 20/308757/25.
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