Violence erupts for second night in UK town

Rioters attacked police with bricks, hammers and petrol bombs on Saturday

BRADFORD, England -- Violence has been reported for a second night on the streets of Bradford, in northern England.

Trouble flared at about 10.20 p.m. local time (2120 GMT) in the Greengates area of the city when a group of up to 30 white youths attacked an Asian restaurant and a petrol station with baseball bats.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman told CNN: "There has been one or two incidents in the Greengates area.

"It does not seem to be too serious and generally speaking the city is much quieter than it was yesterday."

Tayub Amjad, 20, director of the Kebabeesh Restaurant, told the Press Association: "Suddenly a group of youths started throwing bricks through the window.

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"The attack went on for about 10 minutes -- it was terrifying.

"Fortunately there were no customers in at the time, but it's caused thousands of pounds damage.

"I don't think they were National Front supporters -- I think they were local lads because they targeted the cars of some of my workers.

"I think it was some sort of stupid retaliation for the trouble we had yesterday."

Carly Flerin, 20, said she was in the flat above the restaurant when a hail of bricks smashed through her windows.

Burnt out cars outside a car dealership in Bradford on Sunday

"It was absolutely terrifying. I cowered on the floor. It didn't last long, but it seemed to go on for ages.

"I think the people responsible were local youths aged about 18 from the nearby estate, but I couldn't recognize them because they had bandannas over their heads."

The isolated violence came hours after police chiefs have urged people to stay off the streets in a bid to prevent further rioting.

Saturday's riot was the worst public violence Britain has seen for many years.

The Bradford unrest is the latest in recent weeks of violent clashes between whites and Asians in a number of northern England towns, including Leeds, Burnley and Oldham.

As a major clean-up got under way in the riot-torn city, police and civic leaders appealed for calm on Sunday after a night of violence that left 120 police officers injured, two people stabbed and led to 36 arrests.

Twenty three of those arrested were white and 13 were Asian, West Yorkshire Police disclosed.

Chief Superintendent Phil Read told a press conference: "I would make a major appeal for calm, restraint and would urge people to stay indoors.

"We will have additional resources on duty this evening to deal with potential outbreaks of disorder."

Police made 36 arrests

West Yorkshire Police had to call in reinforcements from surrounding forces as the city was rocked by more than eight hours of violence.

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 during disturbances in which two people were stabbed and cars set on fire.

Two police horses were also injured, with one suffering stab wounds.

One of the injured officers said it was the worst violence had witnessed.

PC Nicholas Berry, 30, of Pontefract, suffered a serious foot injury while trying to stop rampaging youths.

He told the Press Association: "I felt a severe pain in my foot while working with colleagues trying to quell the disorder.

"I kept going then noticed heavy bleeding even though I was wearing a protective suit.

"I think I was hit by a roof slate and it was the worst situation I have been in during my seven years as a police officer."

At the height of the violence, up to 1,000 officers were out on the streets of Bradford and the suburb of Manningham.

Rioters torched Manningham Labor Club and a BMW garage, destroying thousands of pounds of cars on the forecourt.

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

Hours later the worst of the trouble erupted in Manningham and police on Sunday admitted that the rioters were predominantly Asian origin.

Hundreds of Asian and white youths clash in Bradford

Mohammed Amran, of the Commission for Racial Equality, told the Press Association: "This has destroyed Bradford.

"I would urge everyone to calm down, stay away tonight and let police do their job.

"The feeling today is of sadness and I personally was shocked by the scale of it.

"Nobody expected this sort of trouble."

Home Secretary David Blunkett strongly condemned the rioters and said they were damaging their own communities.

He said: "I am appalled at the wanton violence and destruction and damage this has done to the well-being of local people, their community and prosperity.

"I commend the police for their bravery and determination in the face of enormous provocation and regret the injuries caused.

"There is no excuse for mindless violence and reckless destruction.

The leader of Bradford Council, Margaret Eaton said there was no justification for the riots.

"There is going to be a lot of work needed to build bridges in the community.

"We must look at ways to analyze this because it would be foolish of anyone to say they know why it happened.

"It's not the day to make knee-jerk reactions it's the practical things that have got first call on the council's time."

Assistant Chief Constable Greg Wilkinson said: "There will be quite a heavy inquiry over the next few weeks and those people involved in specific offences will be brought to book."