'I fear for my safety'

DIRECTOR Nuruz Zaman at the Intelligence Academy Centre

A BUSINESS owner in Chadderton says he is scared he could be attacked, after his company was targeted by arsonists twice in one week ­- and has yet to receive a visit from the police.

Nuruz Zaman, director of the Intelligence Academy Centre, Featherstall Road, got the shock of his life when he received a phone call at 4.30am last Tuesday informing him the building was on fire.

Mr Zaman (40) found three fire engines at the scene, who had managed to put out the fire. He was told somebody had poured petrol on the front door and tried to set it alight.

They had also tried to torch a car that was parked behind the building, scorching most of the body and one of the tyres.

But Mr Zaman's problems were far from over, when the offenders returned to the scene just two days later, at the same time, smashing the downstairs toilet window, through which they poured petrol and lit a fire inside.

The centre provides courses such as English for speakers of other languages. The building was shut for a week due to the smoke and fire damage, but was open for the first time on Tuesday on a limited capacity.

Damage

Mr Zaman said: "It just came out of nowhere. We've never been targeted like this before.

"The gents toilets are completely unusable; they're burnt out. There is cosmetic damage to the ladies toilets. The passageway carpet is burnt. The door of the building, which has an aluminium frame, is burnt.

"I've been living in Oldham for 30 years. I've never had attacks on my property, home or business.

"It's shocking. I don't know what could have motivated them to do this.

"I've never experienced something like this before. I'm glad nobody was inside, it could have been life threatening.

"I'm scared if somebody has attacked the building deliberately then maybe there's somebody who might attack me.

"Someone has a grudge against me or my business. It's quite intimidating."

Mr Zaman has criticised the police's lack of response. He claims that he has only had two telephone calls but an officer has yet to visit and take statements from him and those who witnessed suspicious activity at the time.

"They could have identified him," he said.

"But the police aren't doing anything."

When contacted Greater Manchester Police said they had no record of the incidents on their log.