Four Pakistanis injured, 13 teenagers held on suspicion of racist attack
Categories: Latest News
Tuesday August 30 2016
The Stoke Sentinel reports on the arrest of a number of teenagers on suspicion of racially aggravated abuse and assault after an incident in Normacot, in Stoke on Trent at the weekend.
Staffordshire police questioned 13 teenagers, aged between 15 and 19, amid reports of racially aggravated abuse and violence against four individuals of Pakistani background.
The local paper notes “bricks and pieces of wood” were used in the attack which happened on Saturday evening, 27 August. It is reported four Asian Pakistanis were injured in the attack though it is not known if any required hospital treatment for their injuries.
All 13 teenagers have been bailed and are due to appear before the courts next month.
The local paper notes that two of the eleven individuals were arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated assault and the other eleven on suspicion of racially-aggravated public order offences.
Staffordshire police have increased patrols in the area and have enforced a closure notice on a property in Hamilton Road as enquiries into the incident are carried out.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “There were four injured parties, all of Pakistani heritage. We have had a number of community reassurance meetings and are making sure we are visible in the area.
“Visitors have been also banned from a house on Hamilton Road after police used a closure notice under the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 in connection with the incident. The arrested teenagers have all been bailed pending further inquiries.”
Barrie Harrington, chairman of Normacot Residents’ Association, said he heard “an Asian lady had pulled up in her car and, when she got out, they pulled off her head scarf, which is disgraceful.
“If the police have closed this house to stop outsiders coming to Normacot and stirring racial tension then that is all well and good. Usually, it is very harmonious round here,” he said.
Staffordshire police are carrying out door-to-door inquiries and CCTV checks. Anyone with information about the incident should call 101, quoting incident number 906 of August 27, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.