Shopkeeper’s act of defiance in city revisited by terror

Coffee shop on site of IRA bomb blast 21 years ago opens to help those in need following latest attack in Manchester

Masood Akbarzai’s coffee shop sits on the very spot where an IRA blast ripped the heart out of Manchester’s main shopping district 21 years ago.

The post box which survived the devastation wreaked by a 3,300lb homemade bomb stands directly opposite Second Cup Coffee in a proud sheen of red.

A few hundred yards down Corporation Street is a police cordon protecting Manchester Arena, the scene of the latest terror outrage in the city.

Mr Akbarzai’s shop is the only one to open in the street, in an act of defiance against Monday night’s atrocity.

“We are now in a position where it is deemed that this is a place for terrorist activities and we are here today just to send a message out there that actually this is not true,” he told The Courier.

“We are the only business that is open today in this street, but really we are not open for business because me and my team are only here to support all those people who are stranded in town, who need shelter, food and drinks.

“We are here to spread some positivity and to help where we can.”

He said that counter-terrorism is not fit for purpose to defend the UK as he called for the resources to eliminate the threat altogether.

He added: “Personally, I am optimistic that in the future our security services will be a lot more vigilant.

“A place like Manchester should have better surveillance in place and better security systems in place.”

At the cordon in Deansgate, a man walks the perimeter with a sign promising “free hugs”, local restaurant staff emerge with refreshments and taxi drivers put in a star turn.

The cabbies, who had been on the frontline helping out those affected by the disaster on the night, extended their complimentary journeys well into the next day.

Uber driver Faraz Khan, 39, was among those who left “free ride” notes in their vehicles to walk around with a crate of drinks and snacks.

“It’s shameful, it’s a disgrace, there are no words,” Mr Kahn, of the Greater Manchester Drivers’ Forum, said of the attack.

“We provided free rides all night and we will continue that. It was a call we had to answer.”

Picture: Getty. People congregate to attend a vigil in Albert Square in Manchester, in solidarity with those killed and injured in the terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

Masood Akbarzai opened his coffee shop in the centre of Manchester as he wanted to support people who were stranded following the terror attack.