M A I N   N E W S

Asians go on rampage in Leeds
25 cars, shop set ablaze

London, June 6
Barely days after the Oldham incident, Asian youths, mainly of Bangladeshi origin, clashed with the riot police in Leeds, about 200 km from here, late last night after the outbreak of sporadic violence in which at least 25 cars were burnt, a shop was set on fire and two police officers slightly injured, the police said today.

Four persons, including a 17-year-old youth, were detained for questioning in connection with the incident, a Leeds police spokeswoman said.

In Oldham, a suburb of Manchester city, a few days ago, at least 500 Asian youths, mainly of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, armed with bricks and petrol bombs, battled with police in Britain’s worst riots for 15 years.

Last night, riot officers and police dogs moved in after a mob of youths began throwing bricks and smashing rubble on the streets east of Chapeltown, a couple of kilometres north of the city centre.

The crowds were protesting over the detention of a Bangladeshi man who was allegedly sprayed in the face with CS gas when he was detained at the weekend.

Community leaders had protested to the local police and a meeting was arranged last night to discuss their complaints, but it apparently ended unsatisfactorily.

Trouble began shortly when the police received reports of “objects” being thrown into the road near Banstead park. A number of skirmishes broke out as the police supported by dog-handlers moved to stop the trouble. The West Yorkshire force helicopter was also called in.

Two journalists caught up in the action were injured as the police cleared crowds from the Banstead Park area, reports received here said. AFP, PTI