Emel Michael

Tonight, my family and I experienced something no family should ever have to go through. Our restaurant, Singh’s Dining Restaurant in Hammersmith, was attacked by a group of Islamists. We had been receiving death threats every single day, including one that specifically warned us that 28 October would be our last day. We raised our concerns, and the @metpoliceuk were aware of the threats. Yet tonight, we found ourselves facing the very nightmare we had feared. My daughter had to close the shutters just in time. I cannot even begin to imagine what might have happened if she hadn’t acted so quickly. We could have lost someone in our family tonight. The attackers reportedly tried for a long time to break through the shutters to get inside, leaving shortly before the police arrived. We have serious concerns about how the attackers knew when to leave, and whether they were alerted before the police arrived. These concerns deserve a thorough and transparent investigation. Tonight, I am left facing a heartbreaking decision, Do we keep our doors open and risk our lives, or do we shut down the business we have worked so hard to build because I don’t serve Halal food. No family should ever have to choose between their livelihood and their safety. No one should have to live in fear in their own place of work. I am angry. I am heartbroken. I am frightened for my family’s safety. I am calling on the @metpoliceuk to take these threats seriously, investigate tonight’s attack thoroughly, and ensure that my family is protected. Please share this post. Let our voices be heard. We should not have to wait for someone to lose their life before our safety is taken seriously. Enough IS Enough. #Justice