By Q Radio News
The community group tenants of a south Belfast building badly damaged in a suspected arson attack say they won't be deterred from their work.
It took more than 50 firefighters to get the blaze at the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association centre on Donegall Pass under control.
Police are treating the blaze which broke at at around 9pm last night as deliberate and investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Muhammed Atif from the group says volunteers had been inside a short time before it happened.
They were working on food parcels for those struggling during the pandemic.
''We are devastated and heartbroken,'' he said.
''It was not only the building burning, it was the hopes and all the good efforts we've being doing as the BMCA from that building.''
PSNI Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: “We received a report of the fire just after 9pm. Officers attended along with colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze.
Police believe Belfast Multi-Cultural Association fire near Donegall Pass was started deliberately.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 15, 2021
It broke out at around 9pm last night and is being investigated as a 'hate crime' pic.twitter.com/G04pNY9N3l
“It is believed this fire, which resulted in significant damage to the property, was started deliberately. We have begun an investigation and are working alongside our NIFRS colleagues.
“We are also treating this incident as a hate crime and appeal to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1626 of 14/01/21.”
NIFRS Group Commander Paul Rogers says fire crews feared that people were inside the Belfast Multicultural Association which went up in flames last night.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 15, 2021
The blaze was extinguished at around 12.35am this morning. pic.twitter.com/RGnhQQTR1F
Vehicles belonging to people working at the centre have previously been vandalised in hate crime incidents.
More than 50 firefighters fought the blaze, which started at around 9pm on Thursday. Seven fire appliances were used to bring the flames under control.
The damage to the property was visible on Friday, with much of the roof of the historic building destroyed.
No-one was inside when the fire started and there were no injuries reported.
Firefighters tackle the blaze at the Belfast Multicultural Association's building in south Belfast last night.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 15, 2021
50 firefighters attended the fire with the cause yet to be determined.
📸 Alan Lewis pic.twitter.com/Lrzy86tuJA
The building was being used as a food bank, with volunteers distributing packages to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the association said it had been on the “receiving end of a lot of hostility and Islamophobia for years”.
It added: “We are heartbroken and shocked by these events but it will not deter us from any of our work. Our volunteers, despite shaken, are determined not to let down the communities we support.
“Thank-you to everyone who have been in contact to check up on us and extended their support and solidarity. We are immensely grateful for it all.”
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