Attack on Turkish owner is linked to football murders

Police believe an attack on a Turkish restaurant owner in Sheffield may be a backlash to the murder of two Leeds United football supporters.

Ibrahim Erceylan says he was hit over the head with a bottle by a man who accused him of killing his brother. Two other men hit him on the head with a piece of wood.

Erceylan tried to follow his attackers but returned to his Efes restaurant to call the fire brigade after he noticed smoke.

The incident last week came two days after a man with a Leeds United tattoo on his neck shouted abuse at customers shortly before a missile was thrown through a window.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Wyatt said the attack could be linked to the murder of the football supporters in Turkey even though there was no direct evidence so far to support this. "We are treating this incident as racially motivated," he said.

The restaurant expects to be closed for a fortnight while the fire damage is put right.