Community 'feels under attack' after Sparkbrook Stack Shack arson
"I think the community feels under attack," he told the BBC."From speaking to the people who were saying their prayers at the time of the incident, they interpret it more as an attempt on their lives as well as being arson of the premises next door."The owners of the restaurant said they were too shaken to be interviewed, but said the fire had impacted their family, those attending the mosque next door and workers left without a job."I think the owners feel that all the hard work they've put into the premises over many years has been greatly destroyed by what's happened," Mr Fellows said."And I feel the loss of the residential accommodation is a blow to an area which is badly in need of housing."
Speaking about the impact on the community, Mr Fellows added: "I think they're very shocked, it was completely unexpected, it came completely out of the blue, it affects a relatively quiet part of the area."It's also damaged trust and confidence in the mosque as a safe place of worship and also led to the loss of a business that created a great deal of employment and had been popular with the community for many years."West Midlands Police have urged anyone with information on the arson attack to call 101, quoting 20/308757/25.
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Mapped: The areas of the UK with the highest levels of crime revealed
Police forces recorded 6.6 million crimes in England and Wales in the past year, official figures show, including a sharp increase in shoplifting. The total is up from 6.1 million in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-2020, and from 4.2 million a decade earlier in 2014-2015, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures published by the ONS used data collected as part of the Crime Survey for England and Wales. It showed the number of crimes against individuals and households in England and Wales rose to around 9.4 million in the year ending March 2025. The number of shoplifting offences surged to the highest figure since current police recording practices began in 2003. Some 530,643 offences were logged in 2024/25, up 20 per cent from 2023/24. Theft from the person offences also remain at record levels, with 151,220 recorded by forces in the year to March, up 15 per cent from 131,584 in the previous 12 months. Meanwhile, the number of homicides dropped by six per cent to 535 offences, the lowest level recorded in more than a decade. The Independent has put together the maps below showing total crime, homicides, sexual offences and shoplifting broken down by police force areas in England and Wales: The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of crimes last year, with 942,674 offences logged across London. Greater Manchester Police followed with just over 319,000 offences, while West Midlands Police came third highest with nearly 309,000. At the other end, City of London Police, covering the small financial district, recorded just over 9,000 crimes, the lowest of any force. Cumbria Constabulary had around 37,000 offences, and Dyfed-Powys in Wales logged about 38,000. The Metropolitan Police also saw the highest number of homicides, with 104 killings over the year. West Midlands Police recorded 31, and Greater Manchester Police reported 27. The country's biggest police force also saw the highest number of sexual offences, with more than 55,000 recorded incidents. West Yorkshire Police came next with around 46,000, followed by Greater Manchester Police with almost 43,500. Shoplifting was also concentrated in the largest metropolitan areas. London again topped the list with nearly 94,000 offences, West Midlands Police recorded around 32,700, and West Yorkshire Police logged roughly 22,700 incidents. Retail bosses have warned that official statistics are likely to be the tip of the iceberg, and that shop owners need to see immediate results as ministers have pledged thousands more officers for neighbourhood policing. The ONS said that because these estimates are still in development and are subject to change, caution should be taken when making comparisons between the two years, and it is not possible to say whether the difference is statistically significant. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'This summer our new neighbourhood policing guarantee means over 500 town centres are getting extra neighbourhood patrols and action on town centre crime, and we are delivering the first 3,000 increase in neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in communities by next spring.' The Crime Survey for England and Wales covers a range of personal and household victim-based crime, including theft, robbery, criminal damage, fraud, computer misuse and violence with or without injury, but does not include sexual offences, stalking, harassment and domestic abuse, which are presented separately. Experiences of theft, criminal damage and violence with or without injury, as measured by the ONS survey, have been on a broad downwards trend since the mid-1990s.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Bradford Council urged to demolish former school after fire
Bradford Council has been urged to force the demolition a former school after a fire was deliberately started on the Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to the blaze at about 19:40 BST on 20 July at the derelict building off Westgate Hill is not the first time a fire has broken out at the former Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College, and local Green Party councillors called on the council to take action.A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "We are unable to comment on specific details of this issue, as we have an ongoing investigation for which we have previously taken enforcement action and may do so again." The spokesperson added: "We will be working with partner agencies to identify an appropriate solution."Green Party councillors for the Tong ward said the site had become a serious risk to public safety and a symbol of demanded that the council force the owners to either demolish the building or sell it to someone else."This building has been a hazard and an eyesore for far too long," said Councillor Matt Edwards, leader of the Greens on Bradford Council."It creates a terrible first impression of Bradford for thousands of people travelling down the A650, but much more seriously, it puts firefighters, police officers and residents in danger every time there's another incident."The owners have shown complete disregard for the community, and the Labour-run council has failed to take strong enough action."We need to stop waiting."This building needs to be demolished, and the site brought back into use in a way that benefits local people." The school shut in 2010 and was subsequently bought by brothers Atsham, Azhar and Imran Al-Haq, who own Batley company Apollo BBC approached Apollo Beds for comment but the firm did not instances of break-ins, vandalism and fires have been reported since the site closed 15 years 8 July, Councillor Celia Hickson raised the matter publicly at a full meeting of Bradford Council, asking what enforcement action was being said: "The council has had years to sort this out."The fact we're still talking about 'considering options' after nearly a decade just isn't good enough."This building is a danger."It's attracting fires and anti-social behaviour."If the owners won't act, the council must force their hand, by pushing for demolition or a sale to someone who will take responsibility." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
Family pay tribute to 'deeply loved' great-grandparents who died in Merseyside house fire
The family of an elderly couple who died after a fire at their home last week have paid tribute to "deeply loved" great-grandparents. Police have launched a murder investigation after Eric Greener, 77, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, died following the blaze in St Helens, Merseyside, in the early hours of 15 July. Merseyside Police said an accelerant was used to start the blaze at the couple's home, where they had lived for 15 years. In a tribute, the family said: "Sheila and Eric, also known as our Queen and King, were a deeply loved mum, nan, great-nan, sister, auntie, dad, step-dad, grandad, great-grandad, uncle and couple. "They were known for being the life and soul of the party, always loving a song on the karaoke and enjoying a great caravan holiday. "They will forever be devastatingly missed but eternally loved by their family, friends and the community." A 46-year-old man from Fazakerley was arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday and remains in police custody. A 31-year-old man from St Helens was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder but was released on conditional bail after questioning. Police have asked the public to come forward with any information regarding the case. Speaking earlier this week, Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson said: "I know the community in St Helens is still feeling the shock and sadness of Eric and Sheila's tragic deaths.
