Back in June 2001, a series of race riots erupted in several of the country's northern mill towns. Here, we visit Burnley in the aftermath of one of these riots, witnessing the destruction wreaked on both communities.
Back in June 2001, a series of race riots erupted in several of the country's northern mill towns. Here, we visit Burnley in the aftermath of one of these riots, witnessing the destruction wreaked on both communities. Until recently, both sides have co-existed relatively peacefully, But interferen
ce by the BNP has inflamed the situation, creating an incendiary conflict. "We are not racists and never have been", says Maria Coulston, landlady of The Duke Of York, as she stands in the remains of her burnt-down pub. "I don't know why they did this". Asians and whites are equally bewildered and s
hocked by recent events. Although parts of the town are among the most deprived in the country, with wretched housing and high unemployment, many feel race "wasn't an issue" - until now. Ahmed Maqsood's popular shop was firebombed 2 weeks ago, while his children slept in the flat above. Like most bu
sinesses he has boarded up the windows, but remains open. "This senseless violence is disgusting...", says a customer. But Hussain Khalid claims he was beaten bloody by the police for no reason other than that he is Asian. And local nationalists, the BNP, claim whites "feel oppressed". There is evid
ence that they are spreading rumours to inflame the situation. A worrying look at neglected issues of class and race in Britain today.

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