Bradford Riot

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The Upper Globe pub was attacked during the riot & has since lain derelict.

The Bradford Riot was a short but intense period of rioting which took place on July 7, 2001, in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was brought about as a result of tension between ethnic communities and agitation on the part of the far right.^{[1] [2]} Similar race riots had occurred a few days earlier in other parts of the North of England.

[edit] Underlying tension

The City of Bradford is generally a working class, ethnically mixed area of England. Since its rapid growth in the 19th Century there have been a series of influxes of immigrants. Notably Irish (19th Century), Poles (1940s-50s) and people from South Asia. At the time of the riot Bradford had the second highest population of Asians in the United Kingdom, approximately 68,000 Pakistani, 12,500 Indian and 5,000 Bangladeshi^[3], although the vast majority of people in the district are white (Ethnicity: 78.3% White, and 18.9% S.Asian ^[4])

Ethnic segregation has been unintentionally exacerbated by the phenomenon of white flight. Both the White & Asian communities chose over the course of a few decades to preferentially live in areas with others from the same background to the extent that Manningham and Toller were 60%^[5] and 64%^[6] South Asian respectively while Tong and Wibsey were 93%^[7] and 91%^[8] White respectively.

Part of the culture clash between the muslim & white communities is the differing attitudes towards alcohol. ^{[citation needed]} While drinking is widely seen as fully acceptable by the white community with perhaps binge drinking and alcoholism being frowned upon, muslim culture forbids any form of intoxication.

[edit] Flashpoint

Prior to the riot there were riots in Burnley a fortnight earlier and Oldham two months previously. The tensions rose after the National Front attempted to organise a march in the city. This was banned by Bradford Council. The Anti Nazi League organised a counter march which was allowed to proceed. During the course of the march a rumour was spread by some of the marchers that National Front sympathisers were gathering at a pub in the center of Bradford. A confrontation then occurred outside the pub in the city centre during which an asian man was stabbed. According to the appeal court this incident almost certainly triggered the riot 'the Asian community was understandably concerned to defend itself against right-wing groups'^[9]. Stockpiles of weapons including Moltov Cocktails were found at a house near to the city centre prior to the riot. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Riot

A White man (second from left) is attacked and later stabbed by a gang of Asian youths

The riot was estimated to have involved 1000 youths mostly of Pakistani muslim background. Initial estimates were of 500 police being involved but later estimates increased this number to 1000. What began as a riot then turned into a race-related disturbance. Asian muslim males targeted only non-muslim business. During the riot there were numerous attacks on shops & property, including caucasian and Hindu owned businesses. A notable point of the rioting was the firebombing of Manningham Labour Club which has since been reopened, in spring 2006. Manningham Labour Club at the time was a recreational centre, essentially used by the white minority in the Manningham area. A 48 year old Pakistani Muslim man was jailed for twelve years for the arson attack, he was found to be reckless with other peoples lives but not guilty of having intentionally endangered lives. ^[10].

A mob numbering between 60 and 100 south asian youths smashed windows and threw molotov cocktails into the members club, forcing the 28 occupants to flee upstairs until the gang was dispersed by riot police. Exits were blocked by burning cars so the occupants could not flee the burning building. The most expensive act of the riot was the torching of a BMW dealership, which had previously been attacked in a 1995 disturbance and was so badly damaged that it had to be demolished entirely. Several public houses were also attacked by muslim youths.

Several so-called revenge riots followed a few days later, with a hundred white youths attacking police in Ravenscliffe, and an Asian-owned Pizza restaurant, in Tong Street, destroyed by a gang of white youths. ^[11]

[edit] Aftermath

More than 300 people were injured including 120 police during the riot. 36 people were arrested on the day of the riot (13 white and 23 asian).^[12] Some weeks later the pictures of several hundred rioters were published in the local press and circulated in the local communities. Many of those pictured subsequently handed themselves in & made full confessions. Estimates of the damage caused were initially of £10 million which subsequently rose to £27 million. Several of the pubs attacked have not been re-opened. Sentences for the rioting were up to 6 years, reduced for confession. Some sentences were appealed and the court of appeal ruled that some but not all were excessive. It was described as 'unfortunate' that the background of the riot was stated not to be of interest to the court by the original judge. The government commissioned the Cantle report which made 67 recommendations. In 2006 channel 4 produced a TV fictional drama based loosely on the riots from the perspective of an asian family.

[edit] See also

• List of riots
• Oldham Riots
• 2005 civil unrest in France
• 2005 Cronulla riots

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Lidget Green Disturbance
• BBC:Bradford counts cost of riot
• BBC:summer of violence reports
• Telegraph: We were overwhelmed, say Bradford riot police
• BBC:2001:Two stabbed in Bradford race riots
• BBC:All quiet after Bradford riots
• BBC Summary of 2001 aftermath race riot reports
• Joseph Roundtree Report on the Bradford Riot from 2002
• Christopher Allen's 2003 Official Report into the disturbances
• The Guardian:Bradford riot sentences 'too harsh'
• Workers Liberty:After the Bradford riots, injustice persists
• Channel 4 drama- The Bradford Riots