Exclusive report
Racism behind Bradford clashes
By Ateeq Siddique Socialist Alliance candidate in Bradford
THE PRESS and police say that the riot in Bradford last weekend had nothing to do with racism. But local people tell a very different story. They say that the violence began when a group of white men racially abused and attacked Asian people.
The police have also been condemned for failing to act and then, when they did act, choosing the wrong targets. Mohammed Amran, race equality commissioner for Bradford, says, "What happened on Sunday evening was racially motivated.
"The police admit they were taken by surprise and were slow to respond." The latest incident comes six years after the Manningham area of Bradford erupted into three nights of riots sparked by people's anger at police racism. A police inquiry said these allegations were "without foundation".
- Eyewitness reports on page 2