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Riot cops at school
ANGRY adults and police in riot vans descended on a Sheffield school last night after two Asian teenagers were seriously hurt in an allegedly racially-motivated attack.
The youths, named by friends as Shumon Ghurri and Ibrahim Ali, were said to have been heavily outnumbered in the incident, close to Sheffield Park Academy on the Manor on Monday.
Last night, 24 hours on from the attack, up to 100 adults gathered for a planned demonstration outside the former Waltheof School on Beaumont Close. Police said one person was arrested at 3.30pm for a public order offence
One witness said: "I saw about 100 Asian adults making a big commotion outside the school. The police were trying to hold them back but some got through and were being hauled away having their collars felt."
Parents are demanding protection for their children after the attack at the Prince of Wales Road roundabout, near the school, on Monday.
Shumon, aged 14, was kept in the Northern General Hospital with a broken nose, a broken jaw, broken teeth and a damaged eye socket.
Ibrahim, 15, was treated for a broken nose, broken front teeth, a head injury and facial cuts.
Several others involved in the confrontation suffered minor injuries.
Police later arrested and questioned three young people, all aged between 14 and 16.
Asian parents held meetings in local mosques and a community centre after the attack, with feelings reported to be running high.
"This is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat incidents between white and Asian students - they have been going on for months," said a member of Shumon's family.
"The feeling in the community is this sort of thing just keeps happening and nothing is done, so people then talk about reprisals. We want the school, the police and councillors to get together to sort things out."
Babul Miah, a solicitor representing the Ali family, said: "There was trouble of a similar kind last year which saw pupils eventually being bussed into school for their own protection.The academy needs to build much better relationships within its own school community.
"The police are certainly treating this incident very seriously and we are expecting charges to be brought. The families of both boys are angry and upset about what has happened.
"But they are most concerned that other young people might suffer too, including the boys' brothers and sisters - there are clear worries about safety at the school.
"If there isn't protection in place then the family may have to look at the possibility of another school for Ibrahim."
Another parent, and a former pupil at the school when it was Waltheof Secondary, said both Asian and white pupils had been hurt in incidents which went back years - and which were usually ignored or overlooked by the authorities.
"Many people feel it is really time something was done," he said. "One thing which has annoyed people is the academy has in the past refused to take responsibility for incidents if they do not happen on school grounds."
Worried parent Scott Sargeant told The Star: "My two children attend Sheffield Park Academy and on Monday and yesterday there have been disturbances outside the school gates as schoolchildren are leaving the premises.
"Sheffield Park Academy have been informed that until it is safe to be around the campus, my children will not be attending."
A Sheffield Park Academy spokesman added: "We are co-operating with the police following an alleged incident that took place off site after school. As always, the safety of our students remains our main priority."
A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police said: "Officers will be carrying out as a matter of routine high visibility patrols in the area and house to house enquiries, and will continue to work closely with the local school and communities," she said.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact DC Kathryn Rolfs at Moss Way CID on 0114 296 3437 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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