Belfast Multi-Cultural Association building for sale after arson attacks

There have been two significant arson attacks at the centre in Donegall Pass

A multicultural centre in Belfast which was targeted in two arson attacks has put its building up for sale and said it will never return to the facility.

The attacks - treated by police as hate crimes - badly damaged the centre in Donegall Pass in January 2021 and April 2022.

Belfast Multi-Cultural Association (BMCA) said its members were anxious and scared about returning.

It said it had listed the centre for sale with a heavy heart.

"After the first arson attack we had great hopes that we could return to the building and further develop our plans for the centre," the statement added.

"The tremendous support and donations from the wider community really inspired us, and we could see a shared future.

"Sadly, just hours after the repairs were completed a second, devastating arson attack was carried out.

"Whilst the racist and Islamophobic attack was condemned by many, the result has left us speechless and we have made many attempts to engage in shared dialogue but we were met by a wall of silence.

"This has been deeply discouraging."

'Not surprising'

BMCA trustee Muhammad Atif told BBC News NI on Tuesday that the organisation was now homeless, but that he did not want "to blame any community" for what had happened.

He expressed sadness that expressions of political support in the aftermath of the attacks had not led to a long-term solution.

Muhammad Atif said that people were not comfortable returning to the building

Reacting to the news, Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty International said he was "not surprised" that nobody had been held to account for the arson or other attacks on the premises.

He said he felt the PSNI had "let down this community" and had "consistently let down the black and minority ethnic community in this country".

"Race hate attacks in Northern Ireland are at an all-time high and in 90% of those attacks, nobody is ever held to account," he added.

"Sadly it is not surprising that nobody has been held to account for the arson and other attacks on these premises, that's what happens here."

In response, Belfast area Ch Supt, Darrin Jones, said: "At present detectives investigating the arson have exhausted all active lines of enquiry as part of our investigation.

"If fresh evidence comes to light it will be thoroughly investigated.

"As an organisation, we understand the impact these type of attacks have on vulnerable people and any reports of hate crime are taken very seriously."

'Plans on hold'

Mr Atif praised fundraising efforts which resulted in more than £70,000 being raised in an initiative co-ordinated by Mr Corrigan.

"It is only a handful of people who are the problem," Mr Atif said.

"The people who use the centre won't be comfortable going back into the building.

"We also don't have enough funding to return to the building on Donegall Pass, all of the money was spent on roof repairs and we also spent money out of our own pockets in getting it weatherproof."

Mr Atif said that after the first attack, BMCA had operated out of Forthspring Inter Community Group's premises on the Springfield Road until December 2022, but that expansion there meant this was no longer possible.

Finance raised through fundraising was spent on roof repairs, Mr Atif said

He said plans for the centre at Donegall Pass had been progressing well before the first attack, and that it was disappointing it did not get to finish its project there.

"We have asylum seekers from all over the world coming to Northern Ireland, and we don't have a centre to host them," he added.

"We are operating food banks and furniture banks for the poor and needy out of our own homes.

"Our original plan was to have a hot kitchen in the centre, a small café, a mother and toddlers play area, and facilities for studying, all that is on hold."

In a statement in response to Mr Atif's comments, the PSNI said that detectives would "thoroughly investigate" any new evidence and renewed their appeal for information.