A TURKISH barber has told how he was warned to leave west Belfast by a group of men at his Mount Eagles premises.
Mehmet 'Mo' Oner, who runs Mo's Turkish Barbers, believes he has been targeted due to mistaken claims that he is related to a man charged with murdering boxer Eamonn Magee jnr.
He also spoke of his shock after a car was rammed into the front of his business premises overnight yesterday.
The 41-year-old described how he was threatened at his barber's and told he had "48 hours" to leave the area.
Police have stepped up patrols and urged people to "step back" and consider their actions.
Mr Oner said that on Wednesday afternoon a man threatened him. He was accompanied by three other men, one who stood at the door and two others who remained in a car outside.
"He came into my shop and said I have got 48 hours and 'do not go to the police'," Mr Oner said.
Mr Magee jnr (22), was stabbed to death in Summerhill Park, Twinbrook, in the early hours of last Saturday.
Orhan Koca (32), of no fixed abode, has been charged with murdering Mr Magee, whose father is former boxing champion Eamonn Magee snr.
Mr Oner, a father of two who has lived in Belfast for four years, said he was "very upset" by the attacks.
"They are trying to scare me, but this is my home. I have been in this country for years and I haven't done anything wrong," he said.
"Why I have been targeted I don't understand. I feel discriminated against. I don't really care about my life, I just care about my family."
He said on Thursday at about 11.40pm a Peugeot car was reversed into the front of his business.
"They tried to run a car into my shutters and into my shop, but they couldn't do much damage because it hit the pillars at the front so that stopped them," he said.
Mr Oner said he is not related to Mr Koca, who had been a trainee in the barber's for the last few weeks.
He said Mr Koca frequently visited the premises after breaking up with his partner and "having nowhere to go".
"He used to come to my shop and I used to buy him food and he told me his problems. I was just trying to be a good person.
"If he comes into my shop and talks to me it doesn't make him my relative."
Mr Oner said he also helped Mr Koca collect clothes from his house following his relationship difficulties.
"It's what any human would do we all have a heart. When someone needs help you try to help them," he said.
Mr Oner said he has done his best to help police with their enquires over Mr Magee's murder.
Police confirmed they received reports of two incidents at a business premises in the area. The Peugeot car was recovered for examination.
Detective Inspector Martin Cummings said officers were investigating whether there was a link between the incidents.
"While concerns are heightened in the area, I would ask that people take a step back and consider the wider implications of engaging in any criminal behaviour," he said.
"We have increased our presence in the locality to provide reassurance and deter criminal and antisocial activity."
He appealed for anyone with information contact them.
