Politic-Economic-Society-Tech

Police battle to quell clashes

Hundreds of riot police are battling to contain serious violent clashes in Bradford which have seen two people stabbed and 80 police officers injured. 
The trouble started in the city centre but has spread to the Manningham area of Bradford, a largely Asian area. 

Petrol bombs have been thrown at police and burning barricades have been erected. 

Earlier two people were stabbed during fighting between Asian and white youths in the city centre. 

In some of the worst scenes of rioting on mainland Britain, a crowd of about 1,000 people have confronted police. 

The worst of the violence has been in Whiteabbey Road, one of the main routes through Manningham. 

Baton charge 

The police are regularly charging the crowd with shields and batons but they have been forced to retreat repeatedly as the crowd surged forward. 

Members of the Asian community have criticised police for failing to prevent the violence. 

But Chief Superintendent Phil Read, of West Yorkshire Police, rejected allegations that officers had dealt with the disorder in a heavy-handed manner. 

"Over the last four hours there have been sporadic but continuing outbreaks of disorder and violence involving predominantly young men," Chief Supt Read told a news conference. 

"A number of people have been injured and there has been damage to shops and other properties in and around the city centre." 

Chief Supt Read said 18 people - 10 white men, a white woman and seven Asian men - had been arrested, mainly in connection with public order offences. 

Two white men had received knife injuries - one suffering a slash wound to his back and the other a stab wound to a leg. 


Chief Supt Read said some of the incidents were racially motivated and were now being investigated by inquiry teams. 

Bradford is the latest northern town to suffer race rioting this summer. 

Oldham and Burnley have both had serious incidents but the trouble in Manningham is on a much more serious scale. 

Ban marches 

Bradford, with an Asian population of about 100,000, has a history of good relations between different ethnic groups. 

This week, Home Secretary David Blunkett granted the police special powers to ban marches and outdoor meetings in Bradford until 27 September. 

But tension flared on Saturday amid reports that members of the National Front still planned to demonstrate. 

The Anti-Nazi League held a counter-demonstration in Centenary Square attended by about 500 people, mainly Asian men. 

Community leader Mohammed Riaz said the situation was out of control. 

"What is happening here is terrible. Businesses are being attacked, cars are being set on fire and I cannot believe these scenes are taking place in a city in England." 

He said there was no logic to the violence, which was setting Bradford back 10 years. 

"Now is not the time but questions will have to be asked afterwards," Mr Riaz added. "How have the police allowed a peaceful demonstration to disintegrate into this?" 

source: BBC, July 8, 2001