Skip to main content

Guardian Unlimited
Go to:  
The ObserverUK News
Home UK news International Politics Business Comment Leaders Focus Sport
Review Magazine Screen Travel Cash Letters Food Blog  

UK news
 
  Search this site







  Tools
Text-only version >
Send it to a friend
Save story >

  The Observer  
Front page
Story index

 Recent articles
'It's been like therapy for me'

Take me to the river

UK news in brief

'Skin-crawling' campaign aims to end smoking

So what should I do?

Britain urges EU clampdown on exotic bird trade

China will shut down borders if struck by bird flu

Charles and Camilla aim to charm the US

And this year's loser is... Ryanair

Pardon plea for shell-shocked Somme hero shot for cowardice

Prisons chief hits at 'gross' overcrowding

One bar, three hours - I was sold enough drink to kill me

We had races to sell the most shots

After 40 years, a loving mother wins £1.6m for her son

Bus tribute hails hanged hero

  The Guardian  
Front page
Story index




UP

Rioting erupts on Birmingham streets

One man killed, many hurt as racial tensions overflow

Press Association
Sunday October 23, 2005
The Observer


One man was killed and a police officer was injured in clashes in the Lozells area of Birmingham last night. The riot, between Asian and black youths, broke out after a public meeting was held about an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl.

Tensions have been high in the area since the alleged attack took place several days ago. It is claimed the girl - an illegal immigrant - had been kidnapped and raped by three men.

At one point, a group of more than 100 hooded youths ran through the streets, attacking cars and motorists with baseball bats. Several cars were overturned and at least one was set alight. The mob was chased by police carrying riot shields.

One bystander said: 'I'm caught between two rolling police roadblocks and can see hundreds of police dressed in riot gear advancing towards the crowds to push them back.' An ambulance was reportedly attacked by youths wielding sticks.

India Murray, landlady of the Union Inn on Gerrard Street, said all the windows of her pub had been smashed. 'The police are at the top of the road in their riot wagons and helicopters are everywhere,' she said. Mrs Murray added that tensions had been mounting in the area with outbreaks of sporadic violence. 'It has been building up for the past few days,' she said.

A police spokeswoman confirmed one officer had been injured and that there had been a fatality, though the cause of the death was not known. However, one man, who declined to be named, said the person who died had been stabbed outside a Caribbean food shop. A lot of other people had been hurt, he added.

The Lozells area has a strong African-Caribbean presence, the biggest contingent of which comes from Jamaica. Asian gangs have also sprung up in the area and there has been simmering tension between the two racial groups. Often trouble has related to drugs - mainly heroin - and gun crime.

Asian gangs used to operate in partnership with black gangs. But the two sides have now evolved into opposing crime syndicates, and even the black gangs are divided and violent towards each other.




Special reports
Crime

Useful links
Metropolitan police
Police Federation
Victim support
Firearms manual - Association of Chief Police Officers
The Police Superintendents' Association
Justice







UP




Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005