Police exhaust Persian Room investigation

Police have exhausted all leads into the investigation over the Persian Room attacks.

The Pyrmont restaurant had all its windows smashed by balaclava-masked men earlier this year and police were investigating the crime after the two criminals were caught on security cameras.

The restaurant’s manager Maryam Azady said she was concerned it would happen again.

“I’m always worried . . . they said they were going to burn down our restaurant.”

The latest attack was the fourth the Persian Room has suffered in the last eight months.

“It wasn’t one occasion, it happened on four occasions,” Ms Azady said.

“They wrote on the walls. They were threatening us, they were swearing at us.”

The first of these attacks happened last Christmas and was committed by a single man.

The next attack was on Valentine’s Day, and the next two earlier this year were committed earlier this year by a pair wearing masks and gloves.

The vandals broke windows and spray painted offensive and threatening language in English and Farsi over the walls.

A Pyrmont resident concerned about ongoing violence in the area contacted Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP over the issue earlier this year.

The individual was notified that police were investigating the crime in relation to a commercial dispute between businesses.

Nearby business owners refused to comment on the matter.

One local business owner was concerned about rumours of racial vilification.

“I would rigorously defend that. There is no shortage of ethnic communities in the area, Indian, Chinese, Persian, Malay etcetera,” they said.

The individual, who preferred not to be named, said although crime had increased in the area around Star City, the nature of these attacks led him to believe the Persian Room was specifically targeted.

“Crime has increased in the area. These kinds of incidents are appearing now,” they said.

“The crime is localised and targeted . . . nobody else has been targeted.”

Ms Azady was cautious to say more in case it caused further harm to her restaurant.

“Special detectives are protecting my restaurant now,” she said.

Police are investigating the crime now. Any suspicious activity can be reported on 92656499.