The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, July 9, 2001, Chandigarh, India

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2 stabbed, 120 cops hurt in UK riots

Fire trucks pass burnt-out cars littering the streets of the northern English city of Bradford on Sunday after Asian youths fought police overnight.

Fire trucks pass burnt-out cars littering the streets of the northern English city of Bradford on Sunday after Asian youths fought the police overnight. The hulks of dozens of vehicles remained at first light as the authorities took stock of the violence, which came in the wake of a banned Far-Right march. — Reuters photo

London, July 8
Two persons were stabbed and 120 police officers injured last night when an anti-racist rally in Bradford predominantly inhabited by people of Pakistan origin exploded into “the worst violence the city has seen”.

Cars were overturned and set ablaze and petrol bombs hurled at the police as more than 500 Asian youths, mostly of Pakistan origin, ran riot, the police said today.

The clashes began after a group of white youths coming out of a pub shouted racial insults at a crowd of Asian men, who were protesting against the right extreme National Front. As the violence escalated and spread from the city centre, two men were stabbed, pub windows shattered, cars set alight and petrol bombs hurled at the police.

In one of the two reported stabbing incidents, about 12 Asian youths surrounded a white man, according to a witness.

A police spokesperson said that the situation had been brought under control “after hours of senseless criminality.” At least 28 persons had been arrested, he added.

The rioting marked a serious escalation of tension that has been growing in various towns. PTI