RIOT police were out in force on the streets of Birmingham last night after one man died and several others were injured in violent disturbances.
The rioting broke out following a public meeting to address concerns over an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl.
The meeting was addressed by two senior police officers and the local MP for Perry Bar, Khalid Mahmood, who were there to reassure the largely black community that the rape allegations would be investigated.
Tensions have been high in the area since the end of last week after reports that a girl was attacked by a group of men.
One eye-witness to the riot described how she had her car attacked by a gang of youths wielding baseball bats.
Alex Thompson said: "They were a large group, more than 100 hooded youths with baseball bats running through the streets. They hit my car with the bats and kicked it. They also attacked other passing motorists on the main road we were on.
"I could see police with shields following them and I carried on driving away from them."A police helicopter hovered above the area with its searchlight trained on Lozells Road, where it seemed the main violence was taking place.
Yesterday, police again urged the 14-year-old victim of the alleged rape to come forward after three people were arrested in the Perry Barr area.
Members of the community in the north of the city claim the 14-year-old is reluctant to contact officers because she may be deported as an illegal immigrant.
Almost 1,000 people in the local area have signed a petition calling for 'justice' for the girl and protests, sometimes involving more than 100 people, have been continuing for the past week.
A force spokeswoman said officers would continue to meet community leaders and residents to discuss their concerns.
She said officers were following several lines of inquiry in connection with the incident and appealed to anyone who thought they had been a victim of crime, or anyone who had witnessed a crime in the area, to come forward.
The Home Office has assured the alleged victim that her immigration status will not be dealt with until after the outcome of any legal proceedings.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the death, saying: "There has been one fatality and an officer has been injured."
The Lozells area is not new to racial tension. There is a strong Afro-Caribbean presence.
Asian gangs have also built up in the area and there has been simmering tension between the two racial groups.