The owner of a Blackburn café said he was determined to carry on despite the damage caused by an arson attack.
Police are investigating after Café Raha at Roe Lee Park off Whalley New Road was torched. The incident happened at 2.30am this morning, Monday, May 11.
Footage from the venue shows two masked men at the building in the early hours of the morning as the fire takes hold. They are then seen running away from the scene.
The small Muslim prayer area, at the front of the building, appears to have been specifically targeted with a window smashed. Arabic calligraphy survived the smoke damage but the prayer mats have been destroyed.
Another window at the front of the building was also smashed as the two men ran off.
Three fire crews from Blackburn and Hyndburn were called to put out the blaze. Police said they were investigating a suspected arson attack.
On Monday, staff were cleaning up the venue with owner Mohammed Awais hoping to reopen on Tuesday.
He said: “I believe someone is targeting us because we are doing very well.
“We put our hearts and souls into this place. It is a lot different to whatever is in Blackburn.
“We have not done anything to anyone. Whatever it is, it should not push someone to do something so dangerous.
“It is affecting people’s livelihoods and staff rely on their work to survive.
“There is no reason to do something reckless like this.
“If there is an issue or something has gone wrong in the store they should come and see us.
“We have not done anything wrong to anyone at all.”
The Raha Café only opened last summer and was named as one of the finalists in the Lancashire Telegraph Best Coffee Shop competition.
Mohammed said he felt this was a ‘targeted’ attack.
“We have all turned things around quite quickly to make sure we can open fast.
“Seeing this was just to make us all depressed.
“We are also thankful to the fire teams and the local neighbour who appears to have alerted them straight away.
“They could have targeted anywhere but why come to this area? From the outside you can see it is a prayer room through the glass.
“You can see the Arabic verses and the prayer mats.”
Mohammed added: “We appreciate all the kind messages and support but we will be back.”
A police spokesperson said: “We were called at 2.32am today to a café premises on Whalley New Road, Blackburn, to a report of arson.
“It was reported that a fire had been started at the premises. Colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service attended to extinguish the fire.
“The cause of the fire is being investigated and enquiries are ongoing.
“Anyone with information, please contact 101 – quoting log 0096 of 11th May.”
A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 2.40am, three fire engines from Blackburn and Hyndburn attended an incident on Whalley New Road, Blackburn involving a fire in a single-storey building.
“Crews used two breathing apparatus, one hose reel, lighting and positive pressure ventilation fan to bring the incident under control. Crews remained in attendance for approximately two hours and 40 minutes.”
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