ASIAN AND Middle Eastern-owned commercial premises in Broughty Ferry have been hit by a spate of “disgusting” racially-motivated vandalism.

Three shop fronts were daubed with BNP and swastika symbols in black spray paint and one popular restaurant was labelled Bin Laden’s Hide Out.

The racist nature of the graffiti left many shocked and upset last night.

Broughty Ferry councillor Charles Webster said he was stunned at what had occurred and appealed to anyone with information to contact the police.

He said, “If this is serious motivated racism then I am just aghast at that. I regard racism as an absolute abomination. I have lived in the Ferry all my days and this is something that is totally alien to us.

“This is something we have never experienced before that I am aware of and I don’t want to experience it again. We have no place for this—we have zero tolerance of this in Broughty Ferry.”

The walls of the Gulistan restaurant and snooker hall on Queen Street were badly defaced with racist and fascist slogans.

A spokesman for the business said, “We’ve never had anything like this before. Obviously, it’s just some narrow-minded people, maybe out of jobs. It might be drugs-related.

“We have 20 people working here at Gulistan, and there are some Scots (among those).”

Abdul Majeed (50), a partner in Asif’s newsagent on King Street, said people of Asian descent expect problems when they emigrate but was nevertheless shocked.

He said, “What’s going on here? It’s Broughty Ferry—it shouldn’t be happening here. There are a lot of youngsters going round and I had a lot of problems in the summer.

“Last night seems like it was a one-off thing though. Being coloured or Asian, you have to go through a lot of problems. I do get problems now and again but then I have been here for 20 years.”

Qaiser Mohammed (38) is originally from Pakistan and has lived in Forfar since 1999. His family runs Nickel ’n’ Dime on Brook Street.

He said, “My shop window was broken two or three years ago but I have never had any problems since then. I think it (the recent graffiti) was maybe someone who was drunk.”

Efforts were under way yesterday to remove the graffiti and police confirmed they are investigating “several cases of vandalism” in Broughty Ferry between Monday night and yesterday morning.

A spokesman said, “Officers believe that the same person may have been responsible, due to a similarity in the spray-painted ‘tags.’

“Anyone who has information which could assist with police inquiries should contact Dundee 223200.”