An Oldham business has received 'supportive' messages from the community after it was hit with graffiti relating to the murder of Henry Nowak last weekend.
There was significant unrest in Southampton last Tuesday (June 2) following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years after being convicted of the murder of the 18-year-old student last December.
Tokies, a takeaway in Royton with other branches in Didsbury, Stalybridge and Wakefield, posted on Facebook on Saturday (June 6) that 'hateful' graffiti had been sprayed on the shop shutters.
An accompanying photo showed 'RIP Hennry' [sic] and 'scum' had been written on the shop frontage overnight.
"This morning we arrived at our shop to find hateful graffiti sprayed across our shutters," the restaurant wrote in a post. "We have been part of the Royton community for over 30 years, so seeing something like this is deeply upsetting.
"Following the tragic death of Henry in Southampton, someone apparently thought the right response was to target an Asian-owned business in Oldham. The graffiti even misspells his name, which says a lot about the sincerity behind it.
"We would like to thank the local neighbour who alerted us and kindly offered to help clean it up as well as the many customers and neighbours who have reached out. Your support means far more than the actions of whoever did this.
"It's sad that our town feels increasingly hostile at times, but we won't let hatred define our community. We know the vast majority of people in Royton are decent, kind and welcoming. Thank you to everyone who continues to support us."
Tokies' post attracted dozens of supportive comments, though several alleged that other local businesses had been vandalised with similar slogans, including a nearby accountants, pizza shop and bus stop.
"Awful this … so sorry you had to go through this," wrote Gem Whittaker. "As others have said sincerely hope it wasn't targeted but nonetheless, an awful thing to have happened to you.
"Glad to hear the community has supported you. Keep going - don't let a few divide the rest of us."
"My children love coming to Tokies and are always welcomed by your lovely family," wrote Tracy Parker. "It is a sad world we live in and sad this has happened to you as a respectable local business."
"It's absolutely awful what happened to that young lad, it breaks my heart reading about it…" wrote Caitaln Malpass. "I'm sorry somebody targeted your business. It's absolutely not okay to take something you had nothing to do with out on you."
Local councillor for Royton North, Lewis Quigg, who is the party leader for Reform on Oldham Council, said he had not been contacted regarding the issue but understood the graffiti has now been removed.
"I have no comment really...it's a tragic case and you can't say it's not had an effect across the country. But someone deciding to go out and do that is not the wisest idea," he told the M.E.N.
The Manchester Evening News has approached Tokies and Oldham Council for comment.
