Asian business owner blasts 'stupid people' who daubed shop in Nazi graffiti

Images of the racist symbol, which was spray painted on to the exterior of USave convenience store on the corner of London Road and Easter Road, were shared widely across social media on Sunday.

Online commentators condemned the offensive graffiti, with some speculating that it had been a targeted attack on the shop, which is owned by Mr Mohammed Raza, who is originally from Pakistan.

Within hours of images of the Nazi emblem appearing online, the graffiti was covered up by an unknown member of the public, who concealed the offensive imagery with posters reading “no place hate in Leith”.

Owner Mr Raza has blasted the "stupid people" who targeted his shop.

“One of our customers came in and told me about it and said the shop was all over Facebook," Mr Raza told the Evening News.

“What can you say? They are just stupid people. That’s it.”

City resident Mr Raza, who has run the USave branch for more than 12 years, said he does not think the graffiti incident was a targeted attack on his premises and believes the perpetrator simply desired attention.

He added: “Sometimes people come in and abuse you. If you start taking a notice of them, then you would be mentally upset, you know? That’s why I don’t care about all of that.

The offensive graffiti has now been covered up with posters reading "no place for hate in Leith".

“The shop is on the corner and someone just put it (the graffiti) there to get attention and that’s all.”

Mr Raza says he has not reported the incident to police.

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