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July 9, 2001
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Racists target businesses in Bradford suburb

Shyam Bhatia
India Abroad Correspondent in London

Both Asian and white businesses in Bradford were attacked overnight by gangs of youths as the city tried to come to terms with the worst racial riots in 20 years.

The West Yorkshire police said Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Bradford Arms pub in Manningham, just before 0100 GMT on Monday.

A police spokesman said no one was injured and Asians residing nearby helped put out the small blaze.

Eyewitness reports said the attackers were two white men who smashed the windows and threw in the Molotov cocktails.

In separate overnight incidents, a petrol station managed by a Pakistani and a curry restaurant were also attacked.

Police said masked white attackers used bricks and stones to smash their way into the Save Garage before rushing in to steal money from the cash register.

Garage manager Khalid Mehmood said he had anticipated trouble after the riots spread to Manningham, a suburb of Bradford, on Sunday. "They broke the windows on my freezers and took my till," Mehmood said. "When I saw the trouble in Manningham yesterday, I feared there could be some trouble."

Kebabeesh restaurant director Tayub Amjad described what happened after youths starting throwing bricks through the window of his restaurant. "The attack went on for about 10 minutes -- it was terrifying," he said. "Fortunately there were no customers in at the time, but it's caused thousands of pounds' damage.

"I think they were local lads because they targeted the cars of some of my workers," he added.

Although 10 persons have been arrested, police said that Saturday night's orgy of violence has not been repeated. They said the city has largely remained calm in the past 24 hours and officers are maintaining a high visibility.

On Sunday, 36 persons were arrested for Saturday's violence, of whom 23 were Asians.

British Home Secretary David Blunkett has called the riots "sheer, mindless violence". In a television interview on Sunday, he said, "Whatever the provocation from outside the area, it is overwhelmingly local people who have damaged their own community and its future."

EARLIER REPORT:
Police appeal for calm in Bradford

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