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| Cereal Killer protest: police investigate threats against cafe owners | Cereal Killer protest: police investigate threats against cafe owners |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police are investigating a string of threats made towards the owners of a trendy cereal cafe in east London after it was attacked by hundreds of class war demonstrators. | Police are investigating a string of threats made towards the owners of a trendy cereal cafe in east London after it was attacked by hundreds of class war demonstrators. |
| Gary and Alan Keery, the owners of Cereal Killer cafe, are understood to have received a series of abusive messages online and by telephone since the violent protest on Saturday night. | Gary and Alan Keery, the owners of Cereal Killer cafe, are understood to have received a series of abusive messages online and by telephone since the violent protest on Saturday night. |
| The owner of another local business separately told the Guardian that she had received two death threats since writing a blogpost denouncing the so-called Fuck Parade protesters. | The owner of another local business separately told the Guardian that she had received two death threats since writing a blogpost denouncing the so-called Fuck Parade protesters. |
| Cereal Killer cafe, which has been seen by some as a symbol of inequality in east London, was targeted with paint bombs and graffiti by anti-gentrification protesters carrying flaming torches and wearing pigs’ heads. One demonstrator daubed the word “scum” on the cafe window before police moved the protest on. | Cereal Killer cafe, which has been seen by some as a symbol of inequality in east London, was targeted with paint bombs and graffiti by anti-gentrification protesters carrying flaming torches and wearing pigs’ heads. One demonstrator daubed the word “scum” on the cafe window before police moved the protest on. |
| Matt Moncrieff, 29, the manager of Cereal Killer who was working at the cafe during the attack, said on Monday that they had been inundated with messages of support from local businesses, but that they had also received a number of threats that had been reported to police. | Matt Moncrieff, 29, the manager of Cereal Killer who was working at the cafe during the attack, said on Monday that they had been inundated with messages of support from local businesses, but that they had also received a number of threats that had been reported to police. |
| “We’ve still got things happening, people calling and threatening still since it happened. It’s more support but I think the group still have some hostility there. They called the guys [the cafe owners] … It’s still happening. The police are handling all that stuff,” he told the Guardian. | “We’ve still got things happening, people calling and threatening still since it happened. It’s more support but I think the group still have some hostility there. They called the guys [the cafe owners] … It’s still happening. The police are handling all that stuff,” he told the Guardian. |
| Moncrieff said the cafe had been targeted in the past, with people shouting “die hipsters” down the phone or plastering the door with posters of the serial killer Charles Manson, but never to the extreme of Saturday’s demonstration. | Moncrieff said the cafe had been targeted in the past, with people shouting “die hipsters” down the phone or plastering the door with posters of the serial killer Charles Manson, but never to the extreme of Saturday’s demonstration. |
| “We’ve got death threats, people calling every day saying ‘die hipsters’, all that kind of stuff. So it’s nothing new but just not to that extent,” Moncrieff said. “But the support we’ve got from the local community and businesses around here has been great.” | “We’ve got death threats, people calling every day saying ‘die hipsters’, all that kind of stuff. So it’s nothing new but just not to that extent,” Moncrieff said. “But the support we’ve got from the local community and businesses around here has been great.” |
| The Metropolitan police confirmed to the Guardian that detectives in Tower Hamlets were investigating an allegation of malicious communications under the Telecommunications Act. | The Metropolitan police confirmed to the Guardian that detectives in Tower Hamlets were investigating an allegation of malicious communications under the Telecommunications Act. |
| Separately, police appealed for witnesses to Saturday’s violence to come forward and help identify offenders. Supt Pete Turner, the head of operations in Tower Hamlets borough, said: “Whilst we respect and will facilitate the right to peaceful protest, we will never condone violence. My officers are currently reviewing the CCTV from both the cafe and the local authority. | Separately, police appealed for witnesses to Saturday’s violence to come forward and help identify offenders. Supt Pete Turner, the head of operations in Tower Hamlets borough, said: “Whilst we respect and will facilitate the right to peaceful protest, we will never condone violence. My officers are currently reviewing the CCTV from both the cafe and the local authority. |
| “Any individual identified as being involved in the violence will be actively sought, arrested and brought to justice.” | |
| Controversy has surrounded the cafe since it opened in December. Days after it started trading, a Channel 4 News interviewer asked whether local people could afford £3.20 for a bowl of cereal. | Controversy has surrounded the cafe since it opened in December. Days after it started trading, a Channel 4 News interviewer asked whether local people could afford £3.20 for a bowl of cereal. |
| Another local business owner, Jasiminne Yip, 29, said she had received death threats since criticising the demonstration in a blogpost shared on Twitter by Cereal Killer. | Another local business owner, Jasiminne Yip, 29, said she had received death threats since criticising the demonstration in a blogpost shared on Twitter by Cereal Killer. |
| Yip, the owner of Regimental Vintage, which sells second-hand military regalia, said one of the threats was made on Twitter in a message saying: “This cunt needs assassinating” – but she said the offender later apologised in person when her colleague said he was contacting the police. | Yip, the owner of Regimental Vintage, which sells second-hand military regalia, said one of the threats was made on Twitter in a message saying: “This cunt needs assassinating” – but she said the offender later apologised in person when her colleague said he was contacting the police. |
| Speaking outside her shop just around the corner from Cereal Killer, Yip said: “If I’m not intimidated by that then I’m not going to be intimidated by a bunch of people throwing things at my windows.” | Speaking outside her shop just around the corner from Cereal Killer, Yip said: “If I’m not intimidated by that then I’m not going to be intimidated by a bunch of people throwing things at my windows.” |
| She said the protesters who attacked the cafe were “using socialism as an excuse for vandalism”, and they would not frighten independent businesses away from the area. | She said the protesters who attacked the cafe were “using socialism as an excuse for vandalism”, and they would not frighten independent businesses away from the area. |
| “Brick Lane may have been a target in this instance and it may be a target again but if you ask whether we’re intimidated – absolutely not. Brick Lane survived the blitz; I dare say we’ll survive a few angry misled yobs,” she said. | “Brick Lane may have been a target in this instance and it may be a target again but if you ask whether we’re intimidated – absolutely not. Brick Lane survived the blitz; I dare say we’ll survive a few angry misled yobs,” she said. |
| The demonstration outside Cereal Killer was the third event under the Fuck Parade banner, but the first to attract attention beyond local or alternative media. The group have another protest planned for this weekend, targeting a Jack the Ripper museum in nearby Whitechapel. | The demonstration outside Cereal Killer was the third event under the Fuck Parade banner, but the first to attract attention beyond local or alternative media. The group have another protest planned for this weekend, targeting a Jack the Ripper museum in nearby Whitechapel. |
| Related: Cereal Killer cafe is spreading joy – protesters should leave us alone | Alan Keery | Related: Cereal Killer cafe is spreading joy – protesters should leave us alone | Alan Keery |
| Alan Keery, who founded Cereal Killer with his twin brother Gary, said the attack had united independent businesses and backfired on those protesting against the gentrification of the area. | Alan Keery, who founded Cereal Killer with his twin brother Gary, said the attack had united independent businesses and backfired on those protesting against the gentrification of the area. |
| “We’ve had immense support from the local community with many stating the actions of the protesters did not reflect them,” he said. “The support we’ve had from local businesses as well has been heartwarming, we’ve been given gifts and offers of help to clean our shopfront, so the sense of community the protesters were fighting for has been shown in the last few days despite their actions.” | |
| On Monday there was little sign of the chaos that hit Brick Lane on Saturday night. Only a smattering of red paint was visible on the front of the cafe. The word “scum” had been removed from the shop window by the time the early morning customers queued to pay up to £4.40 for a bowl of cereal. | On Monday there was little sign of the chaos that hit Brick Lane on Saturday night. Only a smattering of red paint was visible on the front of the cafe. The word “scum” had been removed from the shop window by the time the early morning customers queued to pay up to £4.40 for a bowl of cereal. |
| Gabriele Giacalone, 24, the owner of 40 Colori, a men’s accessories boutique a short walk from Cereal Killer, expressed anger that a small independent shop had been targeted. “What would you get from going directly against small businesses like that, damaging property and wearing masks? Just because the business is a bit different to the old Brick Lane,” he said. | Gabriele Giacalone, 24, the owner of 40 Colori, a men’s accessories boutique a short walk from Cereal Killer, expressed anger that a small independent shop had been targeted. “What would you get from going directly against small businesses like that, damaging property and wearing masks? Just because the business is a bit different to the old Brick Lane,” he said. |
| “We’re still bringing people to the area. Nobody’s getting rich here, we’re just making a living. It’s not like the cereal cafe is damaging the area. There should be a bit more respect for what people do.” | “We’re still bringing people to the area. Nobody’s getting rich here, we’re just making a living. It’s not like the cereal cafe is damaging the area. There should be a bit more respect for what people do.” |
| Related: I was part of the Cereal Killer cafe protest – here’s why | Will Harvey | Related: I was part of the Cereal Killer cafe protest – here’s why | Will Harvey |
| His colleague Cassandre Rank, 23, said the incident had made them think twice about running a small business in the area in case the protesters return. “There’s tons of independent businesses, which is special, I love that vibe, but seeing that more and more people are getting upset about it wasn’t a comfortable experience,” she said. | His colleague Cassandre Rank, 23, said the incident had made them think twice about running a small business in the area in case the protesters return. “There’s tons of independent businesses, which is special, I love that vibe, but seeing that more and more people are getting upset about it wasn’t a comfortable experience,” she said. |
| James Ward, 35, the owner of art shop Jimbobart, said he was a little worried for the safety of his own store after Saturday’s disturbances, but he would not bow down to the anti-gentrification activists. | James Ward, 35, the owner of art shop Jimbobart, said he was a little worried for the safety of his own store after Saturday’s disturbances, but he would not bow down to the anti-gentrification activists. |
| “It was quite worrying and I’m disappointed they picked on an independent shop in the area and not the Winkworth [estate agents] that’s just opened up or the Pret,” he said. | “It was quite worrying and I’m disappointed they picked on an independent shop in the area and not the Winkworth [estate agents] that’s just opened up or the Pret,” he said. |
| “We’re not the ones in control of the house prices. The artists moved out of this area ages ago; now it’s just warehouse flats for yuppie kids.” | “We’re not the ones in control of the house prices. The artists moved out of this area ages ago; now it’s just warehouse flats for yuppie kids.” |
| At House of Vintage, Phillipa Doerr, 25, said there was a misconception that independent businesses in the area were getting rich to the misfortune of the poor. The boarded-up shop across the road, she explained, was the oldest vintage shop on Brick Lane before it closed last year. | At House of Vintage, Phillipa Doerr, 25, said there was a misconception that independent businesses in the area were getting rich to the misfortune of the poor. The boarded-up shop across the road, she explained, was the oldest vintage shop on Brick Lane before it closed last year. |
| “We’re all independent businesses so we should be supporting each other,” she said. “We’ve been here five years and a lot of us have been around for ages but we’re not gentrifying the area.” | “We’re all independent businesses so we should be supporting each other,” she said. “We’ve been here five years and a lot of us have been around for ages but we’re not gentrifying the area.” |
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