Police tackle violent crowd

Police have increased patrols and do not expect more violence

Police tackled a crowd of 60 people brandishing weapons after violence in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, but are not linking it to the Oldham riots.

They are questioning 24 youths after reports that white and Asian gangs clashed.

We see this very much as a local issue to do with unruly behaviour more than community tensions

Thames Valley Police

But Thames Valley Police have downplayed reports that Asian youths raided a National Front meeting in a residential street.

A spokeswoman said police were confronted by up to 60 people, some brandishing bats and other weapons, in Russell Avenue after being called by members of the public.

The group dispersed after police made arrests for public order offences.

Police took 11 Asian men, nine white men, three black men and one mixed race man into custody, the spokeswoman said.

The nine white men, aged between 17 and 43, are still being questioned.

Community policing

Ten Asian men, aged between 18 and 31, have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The black men, aged 15, 16 and 37, and an Asian teenager have been released without charge.

A house in Russell Avenue was being searched and CCTV footage from the area was being analysed, she added.

She said community policing and foot patrols were being increased in the neighbourhood to reassure the public, but further outbreaks of violence were not expected.

Where the disturbance is thought to have happened

The violence flared as gangs rioted in Oldham, Greater Manchester following heightened racial tensions but Thames Valley Police said they were not linking this with the disturbance in Aylesbury.

A spokeswoman said: "We don't know what started it off. We're not linking this to Oldham.

"We see this very much as a local issue to do with unruly behaviour more than community tensions.

"Aylesbury has got an excellent record on community relations and people have worked very hard on this."

The Mayor of Aylesbury, Raj Khan, said: "I'm fully supportive of the police approach to this matter."