‘I’ve lived in many places all around Europe, and this was the first time I’ve experienced anything like this’
An image of a man on a e-bike who racially attacked a man and his family at the Soapworks development in Old Market, Bristol(Image: Bristol Post submitted)
A Bristol man originally from Greece has told how he and his family were subjected to racist abuse, threats and intimidation after leaving a coffee shop in the Old Market area of the city on Saturday.
The man, called Amiran, said he, his partner and her mum, came out of the Bakealicious on Saturday morning, which is part of the Gardiner Haskins complex in Avon Street, and were immediately confronted by a man on a souped-up e-motorbike.
He said the man revved up his Sur-Ron e-bike and did doughnut wheelspins on the grass in front of the family, covering the man with mud. An argument then ensued with the man rushing Amiran in an aggressive manner, and shouting racist abuse.
“I’ve lived in many places all around Europe, and this was the first time I’ve experienced anything like this,” Amiran told Bristol Live.
“They had gathered outside and this man on the bike had mates who were around and some of them had gone up to a third floor window within the Gardiner Haskins buildings and they were filming it, presumably for some kind of prank or social media content.
“But the man started shouting racist abuse at us, including screaming things like ‘f***ing migrants go home’.
images taken of the before and after a racist attack on a family at the Soapworks site in Old Market. Police are appealing for information about a man in a balaclava who attacked a family from Greece with racist abuse(Image: Bristol Post submitted)
“He circled around us for several minutes, shouting aggressively and moving towards us in a threatening manner,” Amiran added.
“I was obviously concerned for my partner and her mum, who was visiting Bristol from Greece. I phoned the police at it was happening, and we backed away and went into a shop nearby to get away.
“I didn’t photograph the man or video it because I was on the phone to the police, but later we realised that my partner’s mother had taken a photo of the building before we went in for brunch because she liked how it looked, and inadvertently photographed the man and his bike, who were outside at the time.
“What is the most shocking for me is that these people think it is ok to behave like this, in the middle of the day with lots of other people around, and that they think it’s fine to be so upfront about their racism.
images taken of the before and after a racist attack on a family at the Soapworks site in Old Market. Police are appealing for information about a man in a balaclava who attacked a family from Greece with racist abuse(Image: Bristol Post submitted)
“I am Greek, I am European, but this man didn’t know this and just assumed I was something else, and started abusing me for it, it was really shocking,” he added.
A spokesperson for Avon & Somerset police called on the many people who were in the area at the time and saw what happened to get in touch.
“We received a call at about 12.35pm on Saturday, February 7, from a member of the public who said racially-aggravated comments had been made towards them in the Straight Street area of Bristol.
images taken of the before and after a racist attack on a family at the Soapworks site in Old Market. Police are appealing for information about a man in a balaclava who attacked a family from Greece with racist abuse(Image: Bristol Post submitted)
“The man responsible was said to have left the area, but was described as being in his 20s or 30s and on a Sur-Ron-type bike.
“Anyone who can assist our enquiries is asked to contact us online, or on 101, quoting reference 5226035411,” he added.