Petrol bomber, 13, in court

Police came under attack from rioters

A 13-year-old boy was one of the leaders of a mob who threw petrol bombs at police during Wrexham race riots, a court has heard.

The teenager, caught on CCTV, was responsible for throwing five petrol bombs and starting a fire on the roadway.

After hurling one bomb he was seen doing a dance of delight.

A total of 24 people, who have already pleaded guilty, are due to be sentenced for violent disorder at Mold Crown Court following last summer's disturbances between Iraqi Kurds and locals.

Seventeen officers were hurt in the two nights of violence on the Caia Park estate although none seriously.

Shortly after the first battle with the police the mob spotted and chased three Iraqis Steven Everett, prosecuting

Films of the incidents when petrol bombs were hurled at a police battle line were played to Judge Roger Dutton on Wednesday.

Prosecuting barrister Steven Everett told Mold Crown Court the second petrol bomb to be thrown "discloses what is a chilling moment".

That petrol bomb was thrown by a 15-year-old boy, surveillance cameras filming the scene showed him receiving encouragement from older members of the crowd.

A total of 13 petrol bombs were thrown at police by members of the angry crowd.

The disturbances in June began following friction between a number of Iraqis and local people but at the time, police blamed a criminal element for taking advantage of the tension.

The court heard that on Sunday 22 June, The Red Dragon Pub in Caia Park had been damaged by a group of Iraqi Kurds who had been housed on the estate.

Hearing continues

The mob decided to take revenge on them the following night but they were met by a heavy police presence.

"Shortly after the first battle with the police the mob spotted and chased three Iraqis who themselves were armed with dangerous weapons," said prosecuting barrister Steven Everett.

"Perhaps the most telling evidence in this case comes in the form of video tapes taken from CCTV cameras.....which were operating in that local area on that night.

"In order to obtain missiles, many members of the mob searched the River Gwenfro for rocks and also broke down walls adjoining Prince Charles Road to break up masonry in order to hurl it at the police.

"At one stage there was a wall of flame fully across Prince Charles Road," he added.

The prosecution claim the second day of riots in Caia Park, Wrexham was a pre-planned attack on Iraqi Kurds which then turned into a violent attack on police.

The hearing continues on Thursday.