The owner of Indian restaurant in Armagh city said he was left “shaken” after a pig’s head was left outside his premises in what police are suspecting to be an incident motivated by hate.
And while the incident has been deeply upsetting, business owner, Alamgir Hussain said he will “not go away”, adding that this is “not going to stop me”.
The pig’s head was discovered outside the closed shutters of his sit-in and takeaway restaurant, Spice Lounge, on Lower English Street at around 9am this morning (November 3).
This same property also suffered a broken window in April of this year in what was suspected to be an act of vandalism.
Alamgir spoke to Armagh I about the most recent incident, explaining that while he is “shaken” he remains steadfast in his “dream”.
He said: “I came to Armagh with a dream. I was brought here, not by myself, but by God.
“It is right. I am helping people and contributing to my community. I have helped a lot of young ones. I talk to them, they talk to me. I help them to understand who they are.
“I am finding my reasons for why I am here and I do believe the dream was right. I need to keep going. I am a good person. God only sees what’s inside.
“When I came to the Shambles this corner was dark and I put light in it. I work seven days a week, not to be greedy, it’s to light it up.
“I love this town and I came back again to Armagh after one year away because I want this light to stay forever.”
Appealing to his community to now stand by him and continue to support the business he has spent years building, Alamgir added: “My humble request to the people of Armagh is to be with me, support me.
“This message of putting a pig’s head outside to me is… some one is saying my head will be off some day.
“But I will not be afraid. I will not run away. If they have anything to say to me they should say it to my face.”
Police in Armagh confirmed they have received a report that a pig’s head has been left outside a local takeaway.
Officers are attending, and based on the information known to date, a hate motivation is suspected.
Armagh DUP councillor, Scott Armstrong, condemned those responsible for this incident.
Cllr Armstrong condemns ‘hate incident’ at popular Indian restaurant
Over the weekend a pig’s head was left outside popular Indian Restaurant, Spice Lounge, in what Cllr Armstrong describes as a hate incident.
“I was contacted by the owner this morning after he discovered a severed pig’s head placed outside his premises at the early hours of Monday morning,” explained councillor Armstrong.
“This behaviour is absolutely abhorrent and has no place in Armagh. Alam has been a businessman in Armagh for many years and has dedicated his skills in establishing one of the best restaurants in the town.
“This is the second incident at the Spice Lounge in seven months, the first having the window smashed and now this. The fact that someone thought it was appropriate to place a pig’s head outside his business is disgusting.
“I have spoken with the police who are treating this as a hate incident, and I appeal for any witnesses to contact the police to assist with their investigations.”
