A rally was held in Edinburgh last night in support of shopkeepers in Niddrie who were subject to an alleged racist assault last week.
Cornershop managers Nadeem and Mudassar Akbar were leaving Hay Convenience Store in the Niddrie area when a large group of teen yobs struck at around 6.55pm armed with kitchen knives and crowbars.
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) Edinburgh organised the demonstration outside Craigmillar Library, not far from where the shocking incident took place on January 23.
The thugs had reportedly used racial slurs when they surrounded the brothers and shouted: "Why did you come this country?"
The siblings, who have lived in Scotland for about 20 years after leaving Pakistan, believe they could have been fatally injured in the shocking incident.
SUTR called on anti-racists across the city to stand together last night and condemn attacks on members of the community.
A SUTR statement said: “Given the language and racist slurs used, there is little doubt that this assault was racially motivated.
“This is not the first violent attack recently to be accompanied by racist abuse from the perpetrators.
“Millions of people across Scotland are opposed to racism and we have a proud record of combating it.
“We must organise in our communities, our workplaces and on campus to isolate and challenge racism wherever it rears its ugly head.”
