Racists may have started fire at Bristol office

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Thursday, July 23, 2009
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This is Bristol

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.

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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  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    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.”

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    by Mike, Bristol

    Friday, July 24 2009, 12:18PM

    “Soarer you must have come somewhere out of England, another planet I'd say.”

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    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.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    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”

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    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?”

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    by soarer, bristol

    Friday, July 24 2009, 10:43AM

    “PS Mike, I am not drug tolerant. However much I take I still get high.
    x”

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    by soarer, Bristol

    Friday, July 24 2009, 10:40AM

    “I have debated with you rawlings. many times. In fact I think we came to an agreement last time, that we all came from spain and portugal. Debate is good and one thing however you only seem to have one string to your bow. Your race. You come on this site and its the only story you wish to butt in on. Your race. is that your defining point Mr rawlings? No views on anything whatsoever? "My name is Antony Rawlings. I live in truro. I am proud white British". That may even be debatable if you look back on your family tree. Have you nothing else to say about any other topic? Even if it is putting down chavs or having a go at cyclists? You are obsessed with you race. You have a certain level of intelligence albeit misplaced. You are odd. You probably are rather unsuccessful since you have nothing else apart from your colour to define you, a colour which had nothing to do with your existance. However you are not dumb and hysterical like our Mike. A hypocrite and fantasist and one of the most unchristian christians you would likely to meet.”

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    by anthony, truro

    Friday, July 24 2009, 10:18AM

    “Gary, may I ask you, how you come to the statement that I'm right wing person? Where have I made any right wing statements? Is it because other people who do not think the same as you, make them right wing. These words racist and right wing, seem to be the last throw of the dice, as there is nothing else you can use if people do not agree with you.”

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    by Mike, Bristol

    Friday, July 24 2009, 10:17AM

    “Oh and drug tollerant soarer as well. People like you soarer are messing this country up with your liberal views.

    Sensilble people like A Rawalings can see that if we don't challenge things it will be too late.

    As for the race card it happens all the time and to deny that is to outright lie.

    Soarer you must understand only misfits side with you, one or two of them. The rest of us just laugh at you, for being sad, frustrated, properly bolding sad office boy, who has seen nothing worse in life than a bike nicked from the bike racks.

    You are right it was the police who clamed it was racial as they are just PC Robots looking to score brownie points, but to say black people don't use the race card all the time is to make yourself look a bigger clown than you do on here most days.

    Lots of love Mike”

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    by anthony, truro

    Friday, July 24 2009, 9:46AM

    “I'm sad to say Soarer you are a very sad person, simply because your views are accepted by everyone. You remarks are bitter, and some of them are flawed. I will ask you and the editor can you tell me where I have said anything that has insulted any other race? I have not given out foul remarks like you and others. Now I will ask you what have I said that makes me racist? Why are your views so limited that the only word you can use about a different opinon is racist. I will tell you and your hateful supporters a honest statement, " as of a European race we differer from other races, but unlike your views, we are not a superior race". I don't think you are up to open debates because of your nasty views that must be correct.”

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