Staff at Runcorn takeaway injured by 'racist' coronavirus attack

Yan Xie, 34, who runs Halton Lodge Supper Bar with her family, says they have been the constant target of unprovoked hate from a group of teens since January which has seen her family members injured – the most recent being her mum's car which was vandalised last Friday evening.

She said: "A group of about 10 teens have been throwing stones into the takeaway hurting staff members.

"Last Friday at 10pm they smashed my mum's car up very badly leaving the windscreen and side window smashed."

A separate incident on Sunday, February 16 saw her mum and aunt attacked.

A 14-year-old boy from Manchester was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault as well as affray in connection with the incident.

Yan added: "She was been punched in the head and stomach and my aunt who is 47 needed stitches in her head after being hit with the metal part of a bike seat after challenging the youths."

Attributing the bullying partially to the coronavirus outbreak, she added: "It's racist. It's as if they blame us for the virus. They hurl names at us and tease the staff to come out.

"My mother who is 54 is scared to park her car in the car park at work in case it gets vandalised again.

Damage to the car

"The police, who had to be called out every night last week, believe they are from the Widnes area. They have installed CCTV in the carpark but it is hard to identify them as they wear hoodies."

Issuing a plea to the public for help in identifying the perpetrators Yan concluded: "We have been running the family business from 2002 and there has never been anything like this before.

"If we don't do anything it's going to get worse.

"We just want to work."

Sergeant Neil Anson, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit (LPU), said: “I would like to reassure the community that we are determined to establish who committed the offences and make them face the consequences of their actions.

“Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and I urge anyone with any information or footage that may help our investigations to get in touch with the team here at Runcorn Police Station.”

Anyone with information or footage that may be relevant to the investigations should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 638921 for the incident on Sunday, February 16 or IML 660162 for the incident on Friday, March 13, give the details via cheshire.police.uk/ro/report or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Damage to the car

The incidents are being investigated as hate crimes.

Inspector Fez Khan, also of Runcorn LPU, said: “At Cheshire Constabulary we take reports of hate crime extremely seriously.

“We are aware of the significant emotional and personal impact hate crime has on victims and within our communities.

“I wish to send out a message of reassurance that those who commit hate crimes will be prosecuted robustly and those found guilty of such crimes will rightly find themselves facing harsher sentences to reflect their abhorrent and unacceptable behaviour.

“Following a small number of reports of anti-social and criminal behaviour involving young people congregating in the Local Centre in Halton Lodge, Runcorn, we have adopted a multi-faced approach to tackling the issues.

“On top of the ongoing attempts to establish the identities of specific offenders and bring them to justice, we continue to work to safeguard the victims.

“We have imposed dispersal orders in the area as and when required, acting on intelligence.

“We have also been working alongside the local authority and Halton Housing to improve the area around Halton Lodge Super Bar.

“Lighting has been increased and bushes have been removed to increase visibility.

“CCTV in the area has also been improved and benches that young people previously congregated around have been removed.

“In addition, we are working with housing associations to improve future decision making regarding young people believed to be responsible for anti-social behaviour in the area, through Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.”