Leicester (United Kingdom): Community groups and prominent Hindu and Muslim leaders in Leicester, United Kingdom have appealed for calm after renewed violence between the two on Saturday.
Groups, mainly youngsters from the Hindu and Muslim migrant communities in Leicester in England’s East Midlands region, clashed with each other first time after the India Pakistan Cricket Asia Cup 2022 match in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 28, 2022.
The latest incident broke out on Saturday and ran into Sunday, with police responding to hold back violent crowds that flared up after "an unplanned protest" after the lull of about two weeks, the BBC reported.
It was unclear what sparked the protest.
A woman who witnessed the disturbances said there were people wearing balaclavas and other face coverings, and with hoods pulled up, the BBC reported.
She told the new agency they were "just everywhere, it was like crowds walking away from a football match".
"There were police blocking the road; officers literally stood shoulder to shoulder blocking Uppingham Road," she said.
Suleman Nagdi, of the Leicester-based Federation of Muslim Organisations told the BBC: "What we have seen on the streets is very alarming. There have been problems in the community since the India and Pakistan cricket match and while that game often sparks gatherings they have not in the past turned this ugly."
"We need calm, the disorder has to stop and it has to stop now. There are some very dissatisfied young men who have been causing havoc", he said.
"We need to get the message out that this must end and try to do this through parents and grandparents talking to their sons."
Sanjiv Patel, who represents Hindu and Jain temples across Leicester, said he was deeply saddened and shocked by Saturday night's disorder.
Riots continue in Leicester, England. Hindu far right groups shouting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and attacking Muslims on the streets. pic.twitter.com/97fTIBsBiX— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) September 18, 2022
Riots continue in Leicester, England. Hindu far right groups shouting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and attacking Muslims on the streets. pic.twitter.com/97fTIBsBiX
"We have lived in harmony in the city for many decades but over the past few weeks it is clear there are things that need to be discussed around the table to get out what people are unhappy about," the BBC quoted Patel as saying.
"Resorting to violence is not the way to deal with this."
"We are horrified and deplore what was going on (yesterday) and across the last two weeks. Across the Hindu and Jain community and with our Muslim brothers and sisters and leaders we are consistently saying 'calm minds, calm heads'," he said, but also warned people to be wary of disinformation on social media.
"Violence is not a solution to anything. This has to be a time for peace, calm and engagement."
Meanwhile, Police said one man was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder and another on suspicion of possession of a bladed article.
They remain in police custody.
In response to the violence, Leicester city mayor Peter Soulsby said:
"I don't think anyone saw the confrontation (on Saturday) as a likely outcome and police had been given reassurance things were calming down a lot. "It's mostly young men in their late teens and early 20s and I have heard suggestions people have come in (to the city) from outside looking for an opportunity to have a set-to. "It's very worrying for people in the areas where this has happened."
"I don't think anyone saw the confrontation (on Saturday) as a likely outcome and police had been given reassurance things were calming down a lot.
"It's mostly young men in their late teens and early 20s and I have heard suggestions people have come in (to the city) from outside looking for an opportunity to have a set-to.
"It's very worrying for people in the areas where this has happened."
He added that it was important community leaders continued to try to de-escalate the situation but he acknowledged it was a challenge to get through to young people, the BBC reported.
On Sunday, police said the situation was calming and "under control", and large number of searches had been carried out.
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