Rioters pelt police with stones in six-hour clash

POLICE were out in force in Burnley today following a night of violence in which cars and buildings were set ablaze and officers pelted with stones.

A newsagent's, a pub, a sex shop and at least five cars were torched as riot police took to the streets last night to keep gangs of Asian and white youths apart. Another pub was attacked.

The confrontation follows an alleged attack on Saturday by a gang of white men on an Asian taxi driver in the town, around 20 miles from Oldham, the scene of serious rioting last month.

Four people, white and Asian, were arrested in last night's disturbances, which broke up at about 1.30am. More than 200 youths were involved, some wielding baseball bats. The trouble began after white youths marched towards the predominantly Asian Stoneyholme area at about 7.30pm, where a large group of Asian youths was gathering.

Five cars were set alight while officers in full riot gear were pelted with stones. The Duke of York pub suffered "extensive damage", police said.

Pub landlady Marie Coulston described the attack as "terrifying".

Mounted police and officers in riot gearkept the two sides apart and attempted to disperse the crowds.

Police patrols continued and officers made door-to-door inquiries ahead of meetings by police with community leaders this afternoon.

Late last night a police helicopter hovered in the sky as a plume of thick smoke rose from the burning newsagent's and trouble broke out again. Dozens of police wearing full riot gear and carrying shields patrolled entrances to Stoneyholme.

On the Asian side of the barricade, youths petrol-bombed a sex shop after hearing that an Asian newsagent's shop in a white neighbourhood had been set on fire. Riot police drafted in from all over the county had successfully kept gangs of Asian and white youths apart, police said.

Shahid Malik, a community leader, said: "The Duke of York was firebombed and The Baltic was also attacked and smashed up. This has been a tragic weekend for Burnley and we must now work to rebuild things."

Lancashire police face an allegation that officers were slow to respond to the alleged attack on an Asian taxi driver who suffered a broken cheekbone.

The deputy mayor of Burnley, Rafique Malik, said: "If the police took half an hour to arrive after the taxi driver was attacked, what faith do we have that they will protect our people?" The force refused to comment on the accusation.

Burnley has a population of around 92,000, including 6,000 people from ethnic minorities, mainly Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.

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