12.30pm update

BNP denies stirring racial tension

Special report: race issues in the UK

Staff and agencies
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday May 29 2001 17.10 BST

The leader of the British National Party has hit back at claims it is helping to whip up racial tension in Oldham.

Nick Griffin spoke following three nights of race riots in the former mill town resulting in the arrests of 49 whites and Asians.

He is among the BNP candidates standing in Oldham in the general election. Cambridge-educated Mr Griffin said it was "ridiculous" for police and community leaders to point the finger of blame at his party.

"It's not us who had up to 1,000 people throwing things at the police and attacking their neighbours because they are a different colour," he said.

Mr Griffin, who is standing in Oldham West, said the Asian community had overreacted after the home of a pregnant Asian woman was attacked on Saturday night, sparking hours of rioting.

"The most the apologists for the Asians can point to is one broken window and a woman abused. Days and days of rioting, petrol bombs thrown at the police, white homes attacked and their windows put through - it's a massively disproportionate response," he said.

Trouble has been brewing in the town for weeks following reports that Asian youths, tired of police not responding to attacks on their community, planned to create "no-go zones" for white people.

Recent police figures show a record number of race attacks, with 60% of victims white. The National Front has ignored a three-month ban on political marching to stage demonstrations in the town over the last three weeks.

Mr Griffin said: "Until the police grasp the nettle and deal with Asian racists it's going to get even worse. White people haven't retaliated so far but this situation can't continue."

Officers were today preparing for a fourth night patrolling the streets of the town where a "zero tolerance" policy is in operation.

Khurshid Ahmed, of the Pakistani Cultural Association, said he would ask both whites and Asians to accept they were living in a multi-cultural society and learn to live side by side.

He believed the problems had been caused by the BNP and National Front.

Mr Ahmed added: "People have to start working together. We need regular meetings with people at the bottom level in the community. We need to ask the opinions of the ordinary people to help Oldham move forward."

Talk about it
Who's to blame?

Useful links
Oldham Evening Chronicle
Greater Manchester police
Commission for Racial Equality
Institute of Race Relations
Campaign Against Racism and Fascism
Oldham metropolitan borough council
Br-Asian, British Asian e-zine
BNP campaign for boycott of Asian businesses in Oldham