OLDHAM, England (AFP) - British police said today they were shocked at the ferocity of overnight race riots here, while politicians were urged to avoid stirring up prejudice in the election campaign.
At the height of the clashes, some 500 Asian youths armed with petrol bombs and bricks attacked a pub, torched cars and fought with hundreds of officers in riot gear in the Glodwick area of Oldham, northwest England.
Racial tensions have been simmering in the town, near Manchester, for the past month.
Eric Hewitt, the police chief for the area, said he was shocked by the "ferocity and sheer carnage" of the rioting, which lasted seven hours from yesterday night into the early hours of Sunday.
Fifteen officers suffered minor injuries and 17 people were arrested for public order offences after youths pelted police lines with bricks and petrol bombs, and set cars alight.
A police spokesman said officers believed the violence was sparked after a gang of white youths attacked houses belonging to Asians.
Explosive clash
Soon after, a gang of Asian youths twice attacked a pub in the Glodwick district with petrol bombs and bricks.
Ninety percent of Glodwick's population is of Pakistani origin.
Tensions rose here four weeks ago, when Walter Chamberlain, 76, a World War II veteran, was badly beaten up, allegedly by a group of Asian youths.
Earlier this month, riot police stopped a potentially explosive clash by separating 30 members of the National Front, the extreme-right group favoured by skinheads, from Asian youths heading to confront them.
The far-right British National Party (BNP), which wants to "encourage" all non-white immigrants to return to their land of origin, is standing in both of Oldham's parliamentary seats, which includes Glodwick, in the June 7 general election.
Police Chief Superintendent Hewitt said the rioting was unprecedented in the area.
"We have seen tensions building here for many months but not on a scale with what happened last night. We have never seen scenes like it."
He added: "It was quite horrendous."
More trouble
Police were prepared for more trouble and extra officers would be on patrol in the area today, he said, adding that the authorities would be meeting with community leaders in an effort "to rebuild trust".
Trade and Industry minister Patricia Hewitt said she refused to make a "glib connection" between the Oldham race riots and a debate over political asylum currently taking place in Britain.
But she said politicians should beware of "whipping up racist feeling" in the run-up to the legislative poll.
She told the GMTV television programme: "I just think there is a responsibility on politicians from all political parties not to inflame people's fears or stir up racial prejudice which can so often take the form of very ugly and dangerous violence."
Simon Hughes, home affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, Britain's third largest party, said there was a danger that language recently used by the opposition Conservatives on the issue may have encouraged people to think they could get away with intolerant behaviour.
"If politicians talk up things that encourage the view of racial difference then there is an indirect likelihood that will resonate with people, particularly with young people, impressionable people, and increase prejudice."
