By David Clegg

A MUSLIM man has been left “devastated” after four of his family’s cars were vandalised in a racist attack in Dundee provoked by the jailing of British teacher Gillian Gibbons in Sudan (see report on Page 1).

Wali Mohammad woke yesterday to find the tyres on cars parked outside his home in Kinghorne Road had been slashed overnight—an incident police have described as “deplorable.”

The vandals had also scraped the words “teddy bears” into the paintwork of the vehicles, in a move believed to be a reference to the case in Sudan.

Mrs Gibbons was jailed after allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Muhammed. She was arrested after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education.

News of the Dundee attack emerged as it was announced that Mrs Gibbons had been freed and was returning to the UK. Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir pardoned her after a meeting British Muslim peers.

Mr Mohammad, who was born in Pakistan, said the case in Sudan was “nothing to do” with him and he couldn’t understand why he was targeted. “I am absolutely sickened by the attack,” he said. “I have lived in this street for 20 years and I never had a problem until now.

“I have no idea who could have done it or why they would want to. I have been living here all these years and have never had any bother with my neighbours or anything like that.

“But obviously my name is Mohammad so it seems someone has known this and have decided to do this as a result.”

Three of the four damaged cars—a Toyota, a Vauxhall Zafira and a Mercedes —belong to Mr Mohammad and his brother Ali, who lives next door.

The fourth belongs to Mr Mohammad’s father-in-law and was parked outside the family’s store, the Abbey Newsagent on Constitution Street.

Mr Mohammad (42) says the cars parked on Kinghorne Road were not damaged when he returned home at around 11.30pm on Sunday. It was when his wife left the house yesterday to take their children to school that the crime came to light.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the damage. All four cars had tyres slashed—12 tyres in all —and “teddy bears” scratched into the paintwork. I was totally devastated by it. Why would anyone do it to us?

“My children were very upset by it as well. I had to ask a neighbour to take them to school but they just couldn’t understand what was going on. What could I say to them?

“What is happening in Sudan is nothing to do with anyone in the UK. This type of thing shouldn’t happen.”

He believes the damage will cost more than £2000 to repair.

A police spokesperson said they were treating the incident as a racist crime.

He added, “The reported vandalism appears to make reference to international affairs in Sudan, with teddy bear references scratched into the bodywork of the three cars.

“Officers were alerted to the incident shortly before 9am and the investigation, including examination at the scene and door-to-door inquiries are at an early stage.

“Clearly any incident, motivated by racism—in whatever form it takes—is deplorable and gives cause for concern. As such we would appeal to anyone who was in the Kinghorne Road area overnight or who knows anything about this incident to come forward.”

Anyone with information should contact Dundee (01382) 223200, or speak to any officer.