North Belfast shop assistant speaks out after acid attack threat

The would-be attacker entered the shop on the Oldpark Road on Saturday evening Credit: CCTV

A shop assistant who was threatened with having acid poured over her face in north Belfast has spoken about how terrified she was during the thwarted attack.

The mother described to UTV that the would-be attacker entered the shop on the Oldpark Road at about 7.15pm Saturday evening before taking a bottle of clear liquid out of his pocket and demanding money from the till.

Lucia Felloni, who has worked at the shop for fifteen years, described how the hooded man threatened to throw acid in her face if she didn’t cooperate.

Lucia who has been held up at gunpoint before in a different shop, believes it was more frightening to have the threat of acid being thrown in her face. Credit: UTV

She said: “In those split seconds I was looking the liquid. You’re thinking, he could just ruin me for life here, you know, he could scar me for the rest of my life.”

She turned her back to try and save her face from being burned.

“I just turned round slowly because I thought to myself well if he is going to throw it and if it is acid, because you can’t take a chance, he’s going to get me at the back."

Credit: UTV

Lucia was able to get the attention of the owner in the backroom who activated the panic button and the shop’s alarm went off, causing the man to run away empty-handed.

In a state of shock the shop assistant began to throw cans of soft drink at the man.

“I was like how dare you come in here and threaten me, to burn me. I was so angry.”

The hooded man made off towards Oldpark Avenue.

He is described as being around 30-years-old, approximately 5’10” tall, of medium build, with dirty fair hair and an Irish accent.

Police are asking for anyone with information to contact them.

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