Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 27 June, 2003, 09:15 GMT 10:15 UK
Estate unrest - 47 arrests
Riot police
Police on the Caia Park estate
Riots between local people and Kurdish refugees on a north Wales housing estate have seen 47 arrests to date.

Among those charged is a 13-year-old boy accused of throwing petrol bombs at police. He has been granted bail and is due before magistrates again next Wednesday.

The unrest, which began on Wrexham's Caia Park estate late on Sunday, and continued on Monday night, saw a mob of around 200 attack police with missiles and petrol bombs.

Calm was restored to the estate on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, but there has been an increased police presence there since the trouble flared up.

Of the 47 people arrested, 30 have so far been charged with offences connected with the rioting.

North Wales Police have said the initial disturbances were "racially motivated", but they said later unrest was not, and was provoked by criminal behaviour.

Boarded up Red Dragon pub
Property was damaged in the rioting

But some local residents have blamed the estate's refugees for sparking the trouble.

During the disturbances, North Wales Police drafted in back up from neighbouring forces, including Merseyside.

Officers, some carrying mobile CCTV cameras, patrolled the estate and prevented crowds from gathering.

Some residents accused the officers of being heavy-handed in their policing of the incidents.

'Criminality'

North Wales Police Chief Superintendent Stephen Curtis said the continuing troubles on the estate was down to criminals.

"This is not racism run mad, it's criminality pure and simple," he said.

In the Commons on Wednesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned people for trying to inflame racial tensions on the estate.

He said: "Those who advocate extremism or want to turn their anger on people who are immigrants into this country do absolutely nothing for community relations."




RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific