Two arrested after racist attack

Detectives investigating a racially-motivated attack in Oldham have arrested two youths, aged 17 and 18.

Three white youths were assaulted by a group of between four and six Asian men in the Glodwick area of the town in the early hours of Saturday morning.

A 19-year-old is critically ill in hospital.

Last May, Oldham was the scene of some of the worst race riots in the UK for 15 years.

Intensive care

Gangs of white and Asian youths torched houses, attacked houses and petrol-bombed pubs.

A government report into the rioting blamed deep-rooted segregation in the town's communities as a major factor in provoking the unrest.

Many believe the disturbances were stirred up by the far-right British National Party (BNP) and the National Front (NF).

Following this latest incident, the 19-year-old is being treated in the intensive therapy unit at North Manchester General Hospital.

One of his friends, a 16-year-old, managed to run home, while a 17-year-old friend was taken in by a nearby Asian family until police arrived.

Greater Manchester Police say they want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time.