Polish food shop may quit Bristol after 'racist attacks'

The manager of a Polish food shop in Bristol which was subjected to two chemical attacks in its first three weeks of trading believes it is being targeted by racists.

The boss of Swistak in Whitchurch says he may be forced to close down and relocate following the "horrible" incidents.

Since opening at the beginning of November, stock at the shop in Gilda Parade has been sprayed with foul-smelling butanoic acid twice – on November 12 and again on Tuesday.

In the latest attack, the shop was sealed off and three staff members were treated in a decontamination unit after the acid was thrown in through the door by two men at 5.40pm.

Staff, who reported breathing difficulties after the attack, were given showers in the unit brought to the scene by firefighters, but paramedics found they did not need medical treatment.

The shop's Somerset-based manager, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, believes racist thugs behind the attacks are trying to force the Poles out.

Describing the attack, he said glass bottles containing the acid were hurled into the shop and narrowly missed one member of staff.

He said: "When these bottles came in we knew they contained something strong-smelling. Our eyes were watering and we couldn't breathe. It was almost like we were crying – it was very itchy. We called the police straight away. They evacuated the shop and evacuated all the people around in the area.

"We can't understand why it has happened. Since we opened everyone has been okay with us although we have been broken in to and had our bin stolen.

"We have both English and Polish customers. We've had English people in buying bread and sausages."

He added: "It's horrible behaviour. The acid still smells in the shop and you can't breathe if you go in there.

"Everything will need to be replaced because you cannot get rid of the smell – it will be very expensive for us. It's shocking and nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I feel sorry for the neighbouring businesses it has affected as well because of the smell."

The manager, who said the shop also had a website and delivery service, hopes to reopen the shop before Christmas but is worried about further attacks and is considering relocating.

He said: "We live in south Somerset and opened in Bristol to serve towns in Somerset but we have not had a good welcome in the city."

● A man, aged 21, has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of causing criminal damage in connection with the latest incident.