Petrol bomb hits Somali tuck shop
Durban – Three Somalians narrowly escaped death when their Cato Crest tuck shop was petrol bombed and gunshots were fired in what police have called competition between traders.
But storeowner Sithembiso Shangase blamed the traders for attacking the migrant shopkeepers and requested police to intensify the investigation. He said none of the shops was destroyed, proving the attacks were directed at foreigners.
“I have been getting threats from them and look what has happened. Not so long ago mystery letters were circulated warning foreigners to leave or face the wrath.”
When the Sunday Tribune arrived at the shop which had been cordoned off by police, Osman Mahamud and his friend Jacob Chume were busy pointing out damage to police. The roof had been blown away and walls blackened by the smoke. Both men pointed to grains of rice and other items strewn on the floor. Two refrigerators containing soft drinks had melted in the heat. Mahamud said the stock worth more than R80 000 had been lost during the blast.He said three shopkeepers, Yaya Ali, 25, Ali Mohamed, 29, and Abdul Ilmi, 30, were sleeping inside when they heard a commotion outside, followed by gunshots and an explosion.
Ali, wearing only his underwear, had to run more than 2km to his brother’s shop for safety. A few minutes later, that shop was also targeted by attackers who tried to set it alight, but the petrol bomb did not explode.
“The level of trauma I went through can never be explained. All our cellphones which were charging turned to ashes in minutes. I just heard gun shots fired in quick succession and a big boom and realised we were in trouble,” Ali said.
KwaZulu-Natal spokesman police Colonel Jay Naiker confirmed the incident which occurred around 2am on Thursday morning.
“A case of arson was opened for investigation and no arrests have been made. This incident could be linked to competition between traders and is not xenophobic as it specifically is targeting traders,” he said.
Source : Sunday Tribune (South Africa)n
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