A Lebanese restaurant in Sydney’s inner west has had its windows smashed three days after “fuck Arabs” was etched into the shop’s glass.
Mohamed Hachem, whose family owns Arabella restaurant, said the vandals struck after six months of anonymous, racist phone calls to the Newtown institution.
He was unsure who had vandalised his restaurant, or why. “Maybe what’s happening overseas is affecting us, who knows?” he said.
Police said a witness had been driving past when the windows were broken. The offender was described as a man in his 30s or 40s with bald or very short hair. He was wearing a grey jumper and grey tracksuit pants.
Locals had rallied around the owners on Tuesday after discovering the damage.
“I don’t think Newtown people did this. They’ve brought me flowers, they’ve been nice and sweet,” Hachem said.
“I want to live in peace, I don’t want this to keep happening.”
Police are investigating.
