Racists may have started fire at Bristol office
The offices of a newspaper serving Bristol's Somali community have been devastated in what is thought to have been a racially-motivated arson attack.
The Somali Voice base on Stapleton Road, Easton, was set alight in the early hours of Wednesday and the voluntary organisation's two computers, desks, chairs and paperwork were destroyed.
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Somali Voice editor Kayse Maxamed
Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused in what investigators believe was a malicious attack on the bilingual, monthly publication set up to help the Somali community in Bristol.
The offices were also home to the Easton Advice and Advocacy Centre, which was also damaged.
Somali Voice editor Kayse Maxamed said: "It's very sad and very, very difficult for the community because a lot of people come here for help.
"There has been a lot of damage. We are all volunteers, we do not get funding, and have been renting the office for about three months.
"We've been trying our best to help the community and a lot of people are very upset about what has happened. But we are determined to carry on."
Mr Maxamed said the newspaper had been the victim of some hostility recently.
No decision has yet been made on where the paper will be made in the future and staff will try their best to get July's edition out on the streets.
"I'd appeal for the community to contact the police if they know who may have done this or if they saw anything suspicious," he said. "This has not only damaged the Somali Voice, but the whole community."
The Somali Voice is a free publication. It has a website, www.thesomalivoice.co.uk, and aims to "provide a voice that represents Somali communities in the UK and bridges the gap between governmental, non-governmental agencies and Somali communities across the country".
Two fire appliances from Temple fire station extinguished the fire after a call at 2am yesterday. Throughout the day fire investigators and scenes of crime police officers looked for a possible cause.
Avon and Somerset police spokesman Simon Whitby said: "I can confirm we are looking into the possibility that this incident was racially motivated.
"The fire was started deliberately and we would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area, between 1am and 2am to contact us."
Witnesses should call the police on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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by anthony, truro
Friday, July 24 2009, 2:47PM
“I'm sorry Soarer to see your bitterness is back with you. I have made a legal statement by saying I'm proud of my race.
While you keep on calling that comment racist. The word you have quoted is Anthropology, sadly for your views is not racist but fact. With regard to the British coming from Iberian coast, we were told that was the Celts, while we came from Anglo Saxon's which is Europe
not heaven. I think your views make you feel ashamed that you are of European race, would you had sooner been of mixed race? That way you could not be offened by your idea of racist comments. Soarer, what is a racist? Does it differ from snobbery that our nation has been built on? Do you make foul statements to those that commen on here that believe in that belief? Please ask your doctor if you can have blood from an African person who under the skin is the same. If they refuse, you better call them racist.”
by Mike, Bristol
Friday, July 24 2009, 12:18PM
“Soarer you must have come somewhere out of England, another planet I'd say.”
by soarer, Bristol
Friday, July 24 2009, 11:34AM
“Yes I do because it is an obsession with you. And if you are obsessed with your 'whiteness' and your 'britishness or europeaness' then alarm bells ring. Your comments on entomology are all correct. being more of a scientific (unlike fanciful god hugging like Mike) I agree with what you say. You cannot knock facts. However, like I said, it seems an obsession with you. I could put this down to you being a racist or like someone, not-so-clever, who picks up a few facts from a book and throws them around as to look clever in front of others. As you seem bright I cannot see the latter being the case.
PS It wasnt the cornish that were from spain or portugal, rather the overwhelming majority of people in this UK directly decended from the north coast of iberia through immigartion. We are all immigrants. This has recently been proven with extensive DNA research into our origins. I appreciate when you say european you probably would be more comfortable with descending from some sort of Aryan race (I know Aryans are from the indian sub continent)- Blonde, Blue eyes, 6 foot, and the darker skinned spanish isnt ideal for your mould, but simply isnt true. Hard luck old bean.”
by anthony, truro
Friday, July 24 2009, 11:02AM
“Sorry I forgot that I said I was proud to be of European race, yes I have French in my family in the 1860's”
by anthony, truro
Friday, July 24 2009, 10:58AM
“Well Soarer, at last you have not called me a racist in your comment. I must confess that I'm into politics, so any debate on a way forward for people I would give my views. We where told in a comment some time back that the Cornish came from Iberian coast, but I still thing they came from Germany or Austria. I also like to look back at our hidden history that is not taught in schools, sadly it makes me wonder where the word democracy comes from. I do defend my race and are sick of people using the word racist as a way out of their argument.
So Soarer, I will debate politics and hidden history if you want on another artical. Do you still think I'm a inward looking racist?”