Confrontation had been rife across much of Northern England, with the National Front's organised marches. David Blunkett had banned the march, but with trouble expected hundreds still gathered in Centenary Square, along with the Anti Nazi League counter demonstration. The situation soon spiralled out of control, and the police became the target of the conflict...
Two stabbed as race riot flares in Bradford
By Danielle Demetriou
Published: 12:01AM BST 08 Jul 2001
RACIAL violence flared in Bradford last night as riot police clashed with youths leaving two people stabbed and 18 arrested.
Groups of white and Asian youths pelted police with bricks, stones, bottles and road signs, injuring an officer attempting to restore order in the city. The clashes began after a group of white youths shouted racial insults at a crowd of about 500 mostly Asian men who were protesting against the National Front.
While the day started without incident, the protest descended into violent chaos after a group of white youths taunted demonstrators with racial comments as they left a pub. Hundreds of officers and a police helicopter were sent to help to restore order and monitor the spread of violence as clashes spread away from the city centre.
Violence later spread to the Manningham district of Bradford, as police cleared the city centre after three hours of unrest. Burning barricades were set up and youths hurled petrol bombs as officers on horseback charged the crowd in a bid to contain the violence. Police arrested 10 white men, a white woman and seven Asian men during the violence.
