The owner of a Norwich butcher's targeted in a hate crime attack has told how he has been left scared and feeling like he wants to go back home.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Halal Butcher. Photo: Peter WalshNorwich Halal Butcher. Photo: Peter Walsh (Image: Archant)

A glass door was damaged after a brick was thrown at the Norwich Halal Butcher on Magdalen Street.

Mohamed Haider, who owns the shop, said: 'I feel like I've been targeted.

'I feel scared.

'I feel like I want to go back home, this is the feeling.'

Bosses at New Routes, a Norwich-based charity which promotes social inclusion, say this type of incident is upsetting but relatively rare in the city.

Mr Haider, who is originally from Algeria and who has been at the shop for seven years, added: 'We work hard. All day working here for the customers and then something like this. It's not fair.

'We're here to help. We're working hard, we're part of the community, we've been here for a long time.'

Police have confirmed the attack, which happened at approximately 11.20pm on Tuesday, July 25, was being treated as a hate crime and have urged witnesses to come forward.

Roshan Dykes, youth and volunteer co-ordinator at New Routes, said: 'When incidents like this occur its upsetting. There haven't been any big problems in Magdalen Street. It's a very vibrant street and I haven't come across any issues there recently.

'This kind of level of hate crime is rare.'

However Mr Dykes said verbal abuse, particularly towards women, had been more common since Brexit.

Figures have revealed that since the Brexit vote three quarters of police forces in England and Wales have reported their highest-ever levels of hate crime complaints with only three forces recording a decrease.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request found that between July and September last year 130 hate crimes were reported to Norfolk police - 25pc increase on the number from April to June and the highest quarterly figure since comparable data began in April 2012.

In Suffolk 123 hate crimes were recorded in this period, up 37pc, and in Cambridgeshire the number was 179 up 9pc.

PC Dave Block, who is leading the probe, said: 'This is fast-paced enquiry and there are several leads that are being actively followed up.

'It is being dealt with as a hate crime and I'd like to reassure people of all faiths and racial backgrounds that hate-related incidents are rare in Norwich and that such incidents are not tolerated by the very diverse and strong Magdalen Street community or Norfolk Constabulary.

'We will investigate this crime thoroughly and should offenders be identified we will deal with them robustly.'

In October last year, the same shop was almost destroyed in an accident, when a car crashed into the front window.

It is understood that the driver had suffered a medical emergency and passed out at the wheel.

? Anyone with information about the latest incident, contact PC Dave Block at Norwich Police Station on 101.

? Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.