Turkish barber’s targeted in Ballynahinch

Turkish barber’s targeted in Ballynahinch

24 August 2016

THE owner of a Turkish barber’s shop in Ballynahinch said he is baffled after being targeted by vandals.

Extensive damage was caused to Ibo’s Turkish Barbers at Main Street on Sunday evening when police received a report that windows were being smashed by two men.

The windows of the barber’s car were also smashed in the incident, which happened shortly after 10pm on Sunday.

Ibrahim Demirtis, who opened the shop seven months ago, said he could not understand why his shop had been targeted.

He said he now faced repair bills of around £700 to replace the windows of his shop and his car, which was parked opposite the barbers.

The incident, which is not being treated as a hate crime by police, has prompted dozens of messages of support from the community through Mr Demirtis’ Facebook page and several callers to the shop have expressed their shock about the attack.

Mr Demirtis said he had left the shop for just 20 minutes when the incident happened.

“This was directed at me and I am lucky I was not here when this happened,” he said.

“It is not good. Why should it be like this? My car was an old car but now I cannot even drive it as the windows are all broken.”

Despite the damage to his shop front, Mr Demirtis said he opened for business as usual on Monday.

“I need to pay the rent so I opened today. I look after the shop well, people love me,” he said.

“I do not think this is anything about being a Turkish barber’s. I never heard anyone say that.

“ I like running my shop. I am not expensive, it makes me happy making people happy and that is what I do.”

Police are appealing for information following the weekend incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Downpatrick Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1281 of 21/08/16. 

Or if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.