Posted on 10/06/2006 1:26:02 PM PDT by Eurotwit
Extra police are being drafted into the Windsor area today after three nights of violent clashes between white and Asian youths.
Gangs have fought battles in the streets using baseball bats and pitchforks. A Muslim-run dairy which wants to build a mosque was petrol bombed.
Dozens of officers have been deployed to stop and search youths and mounted police are being brought in.
The Queen usually spends weekends at Windsor Castle and no decision has yet been taken over whether she would change her plans. A senior source said: "We are aware of what is happening and all appropriate security measures are in place."
Tensions have been growing between residents and the owners of the dairy, who have applied to convert an office building into a mosque for their workers.
Despite a lack of planning permission to use Technor House as a place of worship, workers and visitors have been praying there.
Violence flared for the first time on Monday outside the building in Vale Road in the Dedworth area of Windsor.
There was an altercation between a teenage boy and dairy staff during prayers. It escalated and the windows of several vehicles were smashed.
Amid claims that the boy, his mother and teenage sister were assaulted, up to 50 young people clashed on Tuesday night.
Windows of the makeshift mosque and dairy vehicles were smashed. Residents said gangs of Asian youths travelled from Slough to fight the white gang. One youth was reportedly arrested for carrying a 12-inch knife.
Dairy manager Sikander Khan, 50, said the 50 predominantly Asian workers at the dairy were now worried about their safety.
The firebomb attack took place on Wednesday night. Mr Khan said: "The youths threw a petrol bomb at us.
"The flames damaged the front of the building, but we were able to put it out with a fire extinguisher. Workers are fearful now because we are under attack."
Nearby, one hooded youth claimed the problems had started after the previous owners, Express Dairies, left.
The 17-year-old said: "I've been here all my life and there were no problems with the old owners, they used to give us milk and stuff.
"We have had a couple of fights with this lot before, but now they're taking it seriously. We want them out of Dedworth."
Police stopped cars full of white youths and searched them as other officers photographed and videoed them. Several youths hurled racist abuse at the dairy from their cars as police looked on.
A woman living nearby, who did not want to be named, said the trouble started on Monday.
The following night numbers on both sides had swelled and there was largescale brawling.
"On Monday three young lads, about 15 or so, were in Shirley Avenue when the men came out of prayers and attacked them with pitchforks, baseball bats and iron bars," she said. "Whether they were provoked or not I don't know.
"I'm worried that if they allow the mosque things will get worse."
Other residents said that late-night noise from the dairy was driving them out of their homes and they feared a mosque would make things worse.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "We are investigating incidents of disorder and criminal damage on Monday and Tuesday nights.
"These have involved groups of predominantly white and Asian teenagers. As a result of the disorder one business and at least five vehicles have been damaged."
He added: "We will monitor the situation and are working with the community, the business and the local authority to prevent further disorder."
A 16-year-old boy arrested on Tuesday night was charged with possessing an offensive weapon. There were two other arrests, including one for common assault, and 22 people have been searched by police. Three youths are in custody today after the petrol bomb attack.
The unrest came the day after David Cameron waded into the debate over multiculturalism, saying there could be no place for communities living "parallel lives" in Britain.
Earlier this week the Queen gave permission to convert a room at Windsor castle into a prayer room.
The room in the Saxon Tower allows Nagina Chaudhry, who works in the castle gift shops, to carry out the halfhour lunchtime prayer which is required of all Muslims during Ramadan.
"Well the really can’t say Arabic because few are actually Arab. Most are from north Africa or Morocco or some other hell hole."
Pakistan most likely, Bangladesh or India also possible. People from North Africa would not be described as 'Asian'.
That's how Brit's describe muslims (Mid Eastener's) as well as other people from that region
Actually, few Brit 'Asians' are from N. Africa, but most are Pakistani or Indian. The only other large non-European racial group in Britain are West-Indians from the Caribbean. They came earlier, and my impression is that they have assimilated better than the Pakis, tho' I'm not sure about that.
why do they call these rag heads "asians"????
...Warriorssssss!
Why not cricket bats?
Canard,
As one of the sensible Brits on here?
What is your assesment of the mood in the uk at the moment?
I get increasingly the feeling that we are approaching the "enough is enough" moment...
Multiculturalism pays off again.
"What is your assesment of the mood in the uk at the moment?"
It's hard to say. There are obviously a few flashpoint areas at the moment (such as this one in Windsor and the incident at the start of the week in Preston). It's not like we are seeing widespread disorder though and even those incidents seem to be teenagers causing aggro. Which probably wouldn't even be considered newsworthy in another context.
On the otherhand, such incidents are symptomatic of a general 'distrust' (not sure if thats the best word) of the Muslim community as a whole. And, as has often been stated, that community need to take steps to address that, it can't be done for them. There have been some positive moves but it definately needs more. I thought Jack Straws comments yesterday were helpful as well, as was the fact that a lot of Muslims agreed with him.
"Come out to plaaayyy".
okay, we are tellin' our age, here..... ;-)
"I'm tired of running, anyway."
Sounds to me that the English teenagers are the true freedom fighters.
The Harlots cry from street to street Shall weave old England's winding sheet>
You have arrived at some small fame. In your quoting- I believe William Blake, my interest was aroused. I went to Google with the first line. Well, there is "Little Bill" early on. An entry in Free Republic no less.
One could also go to William Wordsworth, titled England 1802.
"Milton! thou should be living at this hour. England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters:altar, sword and pen..... We are selfish men; O raise us up and return to us again And give us manners,virtue,freedom, power.
I cycled to Windsor in 1949 for a day trip. A working class lad, even seeing the top hats and frock coats of Eton College boys. I thought that poor country had troubles then, little money, lots of pride. Just damn.
"Charles the Insipid" better suits him. doesn't an English monarch have to be C of E?
Let's not forget who owns most of the firearms in THIS country.
Do you suppose this refers to the broadcast "call to prayer" ?
The times are based on astronomical tables of the suns angular altitude. In northern latitudes it achieves the prescribed altitudes below the horizon for the first and last call at very early and very late hours. It's bad enough in Detroit. In England it's ridiculous. You'd think they would take this as a hint.
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