THE OWNERS of a popular restaurant have spoken on their terror after their business was fire bombed.

La Tana Italian restaurant in Ladies’ Mile Road, Patcham, was gutted when flammable liquid was poured through the letter box and set alight.

Owners Ali and Honey Shokouhfar said it was the fourth time they had been targeted.

The family-run restaurant has had its windows smashed twice, Mr Shokouhfar’s car was vandalised and a bottle of petrol was left outside their home in the run up to Sunday morning’s fire.

CCTV images from inside La Tana show two men approaching the restaurant just minutes after Mr Shokouhfar closes up.

One man is seen putting something through the door before setting it alight. Both men then run away.

The Shokouhfars’ neighbours in a flat upstairs heard the sound of the explosion and managed to escape before the fire took hold.

Despite their terrible ordeal the couple said they had been heartened by the support of their customers and neighbours and are determined incident will not drive them out of business.

Mrs Shokouhfar said: “We have never had a problem with anybody.

“My husband is always smiling. It is very hard to wipe the smile off his face but this almost has.

“I am so worried for our family, but we will keep going.”

Mr Shokouhfar added: “This is the fourth time something has happened since November.

“Twice the windows were smashed.

“My car was smashed and written off and at the same time they put a petrol can outside our house.

“It’s like they are telling us it is not just the restaurant, it’s personal.

“They want to make us unhappy. But we wont let them. We will not give them that satisfaction.”

Mr Shokouhfar rang the 150 customers who had booked tables for Father’s Day and told them the news that the restaurant was shut.

Since then almost 900 people have sent supportive messages through the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Inside the restaurant the front door was destroyed. Thick smoke damaged the interior and bottles on the bar were covered in soot.

The air conditioning units and lights also melted from the heat of the blaze.

Despite the damage, which will cost thousands of pounds to repair, the couple are determined to be up and running again as soon as possible, maybe even reopening by this weekend.

Sussex Police said it was reviewing the Shokouhfars’ CCTV footage and said a man had been arrested but released.