BB FANS

Sat Oct 22, 2005 10:15 PM BST

LONDON (Reuters) - A man was killed and a police officer injured on Saturday night when clashes erupted in Birmingham, police said.

The disturbance broke out after a public meeting to address community concerns over an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl.

Gangs of youths wielding baseball bats were reported to have run amok in the Lozells area of the city.

"There was a public meeting earlier today responding to the local concerns," a police spokeswoman said.

"Officers met with local people and community leaders to address people's concerns over an alleged incident said to have taken place towards the later part of last week."

"I can confirm there have been sporadic incidents of disorder and there has been a fatality," the spokeswoman said.

Ananova

One man has died and a police officer has been injured in clashes in the Lozells area of Birmingham, West Midlands police said.

The disturbance broke out following a public meeting on Saturday evening to address concerns over an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl.

Tensions have been high in the area since the end of last week after reports a girl was attacked by a group of men.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward and are following several lines of inquiry, a police spokeswoman said.

The meeting was attended by two senior police officers and the MP for Perry Bar, Khalid Mahmood and followed a rally in support of victims of crime.

The spokeswoman said the meeting which began at 1pm had passed off peacefully.

A PA reporter who drove into the Lozells area had her car attacked by a gang of youths wielding baseball bats.

Alex Thompson said: "They were a large group, more than 100 hooded youths with baseball bats running through the streets.

"They hit my car with the bats and kicked it, they also attacked other passing motorists on the main road we were on. They were running past me. I could see police with shields following them and I carried on driving away from them."

A police helicopter hovered above the area with its searchlight trained on the Lozells Road where it seemed the main violence was taking place.

send in the SWAT team, with a haft dozen snipers and start shooting this common 'baseball bat' filth that infest our society.

but no, we won't be having that. Instead we'll see up a commitee to investigate the matter. Meanwhile the locals are too afraid to venture out after sundown.

Seriously, get the bloody snipers in there. Pick off a few of the filth, and the rest will go running back to their little holes.

Cal: no time for consideration, the filth must be destroyed.

Sun Oct 23, 2005 11:55 AM BST


LONDON (Reuters) - Police and community leaders in Birmingham appealed for calm on Sunday after violent clashes on Saturday night left one man dead and a police officer shot.

West Midlands police said over 40 community leaders had met with officers in a bid to unravel what caused the night of violence in Britain's second largest city.

"We need people to come forward with information to help arrest and convict those responsible and not to take the law into their own hands," Assistant Chief Constable David Shaw said.

"I feel a sense of sorrow that we have lost someone from the community, that innocent people in the area have been attacked and injured and that one of our colleagues was shot," Shaw said in a statement.

The officer was wounded in the thigh after he was shot by a ball bearing gun.

The disturbances broke out on Saturday after a public meeting to address community concerns over an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl.

Rumours grew as to what had occurred despite attempts by members of the local black and Asian community to reassure people, police said.

A peaceful demonstration was organised and passed off without incident but later in the evening gangs of youths wielding baseball bats were reported to have run amok in the Lozells area of the city.

Police said during three hours of unrest a man in his 20s was fatally stabbed and at least four other individuals wounded in a knife attacks.

Another man was shot but his wound is not thought to be life threatening. Buildings were damaged and cars set on fire.

New disturbances have been reported on the streets of Birmingham a night after riots led to a man being murdered and more than 80 crimes committed.

Groups gathered on a number of streets in the Lozells area of the city, where a heavy police presence is in place.
Several hundred youths marched "aggressively" down Lozells Road, according to BBC News 24.

The incident comes after riots on Saturday, sparked by allegations that a 14-year-old girl was raped.

Story from
BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/10/23 22:11:28 GMT

Monday, October 24, 2005 Posted: 0925 GMT
CNN

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- Police arrested two men early Monday after an 18-year-old man was shot dead in the central England city of Birmingham, where rioting broke out during the weekend.

The fatal shooting happened about a mile (2 kilometers) from the Lozells area, where sporadic incidents occurred overnight following more serious violence Saturday night.

West Midlands police said it was unclear whether the fatal shooting was linked to the earlier disturbances.

Riots erupted after members of the Afro-Caribbean and South Asian communities held a meeting Saturday over the alleged rape of a 14-year-old black girl by an Asian man.

The meeting was partially meant to calm tension and encourage the alleged victim to come forward.

Police said a group of people tried to force their way into the church where the meeting was being held and were prevented from doing so.

A series of "minor disorders" followed, police said. Shops were vandalized and at least one car was set ablaze, and hundreds of police in riot gear were attacked with bricks and bottles.

Four people were stabbed, including a 23-year-old black man, who died from his injuries at Birmingham's City Hospital. A police officer was shot in the leg with a ball-bearing gun.

Police arrested five people for suspected public disorder offenses. Officers received reports of 80 crimes, and 35 people were taken to hospital.