Two stabbed in Bradford violence

Youths throw stones at police lines in Bradford

Two people have been stabbed and 18 people arrested during violent clashes between white and Asian youths in Bradford.

The trouble started in the city centre and later spread to the Manningham area of the city, the scene of serious rioting six years ago.

Local people said up to 1,000 Asian youths were involved in the trouble but claimed most did not come from Bradford.

A number of people have been injured and there has been damage to shops and other properties in and around the city centre

Chief Supt Phil Read
West Yorkshire Police

Police have condemned the violence and appealed for calm.

Chief Superintendent Phil Read, of West Yorkshire Police, rejected allegations that officers had dealt with the disorder in a heavy-handed manner.

He made a strong appeal to the people of Bradford to clear the streets.

"Over the last four hours there have been sporadic but continuing outbreaks of disorder and violence involving predominantly young men," Chief Supt Read told a news conference.

"A number of people have been injured and there has been damage to shops and other properties in and around the city centre."

Chief Supt Read said 18 people - 10 white men, a white woman and seven Asian men - had been arrested, mainly in connection with public order offences.

Two white men had received knife injuries - one suffering a slash wound to his back and the other a stab wound to a leg.

Police attend to an injured man

Police dealt with several disturbances in the city centre, involving groups of between 50 and 200 people which caused damage to shops and pubs.

Mounted police were brought in and a helicopter hovered overhead as the violence continued.

Cars were set alight and police lines were pelted with bricks, bottles and fireworks by the mob.

Chief Supt Read said some of the incidents were racially motivated and were now being investigated by inquiry teams.

Bradford is the latest northern town to suffer race rioting this summer. Oldham and Burnley have both had serious incidents.

Heightening tension

Bradford, with an Asian population of about 100,000, has a history of good relations between different ethnic groups. But there was serious violence in April following a fight at a Hindu wedding reception.

This week, Home Secretary David Blunkett granted the police special powers to ban marches and outdoor meetings in Bradford until 27 September.

But tension flared amid reports that members of the National Front still planned to demonstrate.

The Anti-Nazi League held a counter-demonstration in Centenary Square attended by about 500 people, mainly Asian men.

Local people say up to 1,000 youths were involved

At the height of the trouble, police were pelted with bricks, bottles and road signs and two city centre pubs had their windows smashed.

Police cleared the city centre after three hours of unrest but violence later spread to the Manningham area of Bradford.

Petrol bombs were thrown at officers and burning barricades were set up.

Community leader Mohammed Riaz said the situation was out of control. "What is happening here is terrible. Businesses are being attacked, cars are being set on fire and I cannot believe these scenes are taking place in a city in England."

He said there was no logic to the violence, which was setting Bradford back 10 years.

"Now is not the time but questions will have to be asked afterwards," Mr Riaz added, "how have the police allowed a peaceful demonstration to disintegrate into this?"