Police 'surprise' at race clash

The Red Dragon in the middle of the estate was ransacked

Police say they are surprised that racially-motivated violence involving up to 40 people flared on a north Wales estate.

Six arrests have been made so far and more are expected after the disturbances in Wrexham.

Police said there were two separate clashes in the Caia Park area on Sunday night involving weapons such as sticks and billiard cues.

Chief Supt Steve Curtis, of North Wales Police, said it was a complete surprise.

I was scared, I'm stood trembling now. There were kids on the street. You're not safe in your own backyard anymore

Unnamed Caia Park resident

The Iraqis involved had lived on the estate for a year, he said, and there had never been trouble before.

Officers were called to the first incident on the estate's Prince Charles Avenue at 1955 BST on Sunday.

One man was arrested and another was taken to hospital with a head injury.

But around an hour later officers were again called after reports that windows had been smashed at the Red Dragon pub, in the centre of the estate.

The pub was ransacked.

North Wales Police officers are combing the area

This was a larger disturbance involving up to 40 men aged between 20 and 30 but police say the situation was quickly brought under control quickly.

Mr Curtis said Sunday's events were isolated and assured local people that police and others would work to ensure there was no repeat.

Of the six men arrested so far, four were believed to be Kurdish-Iraqis, and two from Wrexham. A seventh man has been released on police bail.

Wrexham Assembly Member John Marek said it was too premature to say if the disturbance was racially motivated and that he heard it was sparked by a row between a man and a woman.

Eirian Jones, who lives on the estate said: " It was like Beirut here."

"It was haywire. I was on the pub wall and about 40 people came over shouting. It was like watching gangs on television."

Another man who did not wish to be named but was in the pub said: "I was scared, I'm stood trembling now. There were kids on the street. You're not safe in your own backyard anymore."

On Monday morning an area near the pub remained cordoned off.

Around 12 police officers were making house to house inquiries and carrying out a fingertip search of the area.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0845 6071001/2.