Gangs attack businesses in Bradford

Asian- and white-owned businesses in Bradford, England, were targeted by gangs overnight but there was no repeat of Saturday …

Asian- and white-owned businesses in Bradford, England, were targeted by gangs overnight but there was no repeat of Saturday night's levels of violence, police said today.

Trouble flared in the Greengates area of the city about 10.20 p.m. when up to 30 white youths attacked an Asian restaurant and a petrol station with bricks and baseball bats.

But West Yorkshire Police said their plea for calm appeared overall to have been successful.

A spokesman said: "There have been one or two sporadic incidents but nothing on the scale of Saturday night."

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The appeal for calm came after violence on Saturday night that left 120 police officers injured, two people stabbed and 36 arrests.

Gangs of Asian and white youths fought running battles with officers who were pelted with bricks, bottles, petrol bombs and fireworks and attacked with baseball bats and hammers.

Tensions had risen on Saturday afternoon following a rally by the Anti Nazi League in Centenary Square in protest at a planned demonstration by National Front activists.

British Home Secretary Mr David Blunkett yesterday condemned the rioters and suggested the police may need more powers to deal with such disturbances.

PA