The trouble between the Afro-Carribean and Somali gangs has been simmering all week but finally spiralled out of control when youths armed with sticks and swords fought on the streets of Broomhall on Thursday night and a man was stabbed outside Primark in Sheffield city centre yesterday morning.

Today Ch Supt Jon House, Sheffield district policing commander, said last night 30 extra officers patrolled the streets of Broomhall to search youths for weapons and reassure the community. The patrols will continue all weekend.

He said: "We have been speaking with the community all week and we have been responding to a number of incidents between Afro-Carribean and Somali youths. These incidents have culminated in a stabbing outside of the area yesterday and while we are not directly linking them this is one of our possible lines of inquiry.

"We now feel, following conversations with the leader of the council and the leader of the Labour Party, a more robust stance of stop and search must be taken to reassure members of the public."

City councillors, who were asked to intervene by residents, have been asked to stand back by the leader of Sheffield Council and the city's top police officer and let police deal with the problem.

One Broomhall resident said the trouble had been ongoing for two years. He said of the Thursday night clash: "Two boys, aged 15 and 16, were attacked, kicked and punched. Then a group of four lads were confronted by about 30 people armed with sticks and swords.

"There have been problems with gangs for about two years but it seems to have got worse.

"There's been a very strong police presence in Broomhall since a shooting two months ago."

Coun Mazher Iqbal, former Sheffield Council cabinet advisor for community safety, said the city centre stabbing followed problems starting last weekend. "It started as a dispute between Somali and Afro-Caribbean youths but has escalated and involves two gangs. We've had people carrying serious weapons, baseball bats, knives and pick-axes.

"There have been six or seven skirmishes, in one of which a man was beaten with a baseball bat."

Yesterday Lib Dem council leader Paul Scriven and Labour counterpart Jan Wilson met Ch Supt Jon House.

Coun Scriven and Mr House have asked city councillors to attend the area for scheduled meetings only and not to put themselves or others at risk by responding to requests to go into the area.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the stabbing in which a man aged 20 received minor injuries. The attack was at around 9.30am on Angel Street and anyone with information is asked to ring West Bar CID on 0114 296 4174.

A public meeting to discuss the problems was due to take place at Broomspring Centre, Broomhall, at noon today.

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