'Masked men on Sheffield's streets - it can never be acceptable'

We live in an era where people have become so blinded by their ideology they don't even consider the communities they're allegedly trying to save.

We've all had that awkward moment of walking down a street at night and being faced by a group of teenagers in hoodies.

A group of people believed to be associated with Patriot Platform marched through the streets of Darnall, in Sheffield, on Sunday, October 11 | Social Media

placeholder image — A group of people believed to be associated with Patriot Platform marched through the streets of Darnall, in Sheffield, on Sunday, October 11 | Social Media

I wish I could say I'm so manly that I walk past without flinching, but if I'm being honest I have to prepare myself a bit, take a breath and push past that moment of fear.

Some people might cross the road, clutch their phone or reach into their pockets for their keys.

Now imagine waking up to find hundreds of masked men prowling the streets outside your door.

They're dressed all in black with some wearing camo face paint like they're trying to recreate a scene from Rambo.

You'd be, rightfully, scared - and that's what the people of Darnall went through this weekend.

At a community meeting at the Pakistani Muslim Centre in response one man told me that he didn't care why these people had turned up, he was just concerned so many people were able to congregate on the streets like this.

The man, who asked not to be named, added: “We have got a group of people who want to divide the area - we don’t want that. We are Darnall, we are one family.”

I couldn't help but think back to Manvers two years ago, when I was covering the chaotic riot as it happened. I'd been to that area multiple times before, but now I was seeing people blindly assault police in a bid to cause wanton destruction.

They succeeded, and after the rioters had gone home it was the residents who had to unlock their doors and start cleaning up the mess.

We live in an era where people have become so blinded by their ideology they don't even consider the communities they're allegedly trying to save.

It’s fair to be angry with how this country is run, there’s nothing wrong with raising concerns about immigration, but donning balaclavas and leaving innocent residents “petrified” on a Sunday morning cannot be seen as acceptable.

No motive can excuse that and Sheffield should not be divided by this.