Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE updates direct to your email inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A fundraising page set up after an arson attack on an East Belfast nail salon - branded a racially-motivated hate crime by cops - has raised more than £3,000 in eight hours.

The gofundme page aims to raise £4,000 to help the owner of the salon get her popular business back on track.

Appealing for funds, it states: “This girl has worked extremely hard for what she has achieved and our community is behind her 100%.”

Asta’s Glam Factory, on Castlereagh Street, is owned by a Lithuanian woman.

According to police, a gang of men forced up shutters at the premises shortly before midnight, poured accelerant and set it alight, causing extensive damage.

It is the latest in a spate of attacks on foreign nationals in Belfast in recent weeks, which prompted cops to call a press conference in the city earlier today.

Honorary consul Jerome Mullen accused Stormont’s political leaders of not doing enough to tackle racism in the region at the event.

Meanwhile, the gofundme page is close to reaching its target of £4,000 after it was flooded with donations and messages of support since it was set up this morning.

Lynsay McNeice said: “Don’t let the idiotic minority get you down. Get strength from all the support you have and carry on. I hope enough is collected to get your business back.”

Donating money, Chiara-Jane Grindle said: “stick with us - East Belfast is all the better for the increased diversity you and others bring!”

Mary Fettes wrote: “Good luck Asta! I’m sorry that you suffered this racism. We are all not the same.”

Winston Turkington said: “So sorry about your business - the perpetrators do not represent the good folk of East Belfast. Good luck for the future.”, while Greg O’Donoghue said: “This is a way that ordinary people can hit back at these horrible vandals who represent only their sick selves.”

Earlier this year, more than £330,000 was raised for disabled pensioner Alan Barnes after he was knocked to the ground and injured by a robber outside his home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.

The appeal for donations was set up by stranger Katie Cutler, who was horrified by the attack and despite hoping to raise just £500, she was shocked when £330,000 rolled in from donors around the world.