Somalis attacked in city suburb
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:42 am
Somalis attacked in city suburb
Some families are saying they want to leave the city
Somali women living in Bristol are increasingly being targeted in racist attacks, say support groups.
A number of women have been injured by gangs throwing stones. Support Against Racist Incidents said the Hillfields area was of particular concern.
Kayse Mohammed, from the Somali Voice newspaper, said: "We're are calling on the authorities to do something before it is too late. It is unacceptable."
There are 20,000 Somalis living in Bristol, up from 4,000 five years ago.
On Wednesday morning a pregnant Somali woman in the Hillfields area of the city was attacked with stones then beaten in front of her two-year-old daughter.
I don't understand why they hate us - why are they doing this to us?
Race attack victim
The woman who does not want to be identified, said she was putting her daughter in her car seat when she heard a noise.
Her attacker shouted at her then threw rocks at her from a nearby garden
She tried to defend herself with an umbrella but the attacker took it from her and used it to beat her
"It destroyed my feeling of being safe anyway. I think there should be more things done and the community should be aware of what's happening to us.
"I don't understand why they hate us - why are they doing this to us?
"I really don't understand and I cannot believe a human can do this to another human," she said
Nasty incident
Avon and Somerset Police said it was taking the assaults "very seriously".
Detective Chief Inspector David McCallum is taking personal charge of this latest case.
"This particular incident was a particularly distasteful one in that a pregnant woman with a child was targeted.
Women are telling us they are absolutely frightened even to go outside their home to drop their children at school
Batook Pandya, Support Against Racist Incidents
"Fortunately she wasn't seriously injured but nevertheless she would have been particularly traumatised by what was a very nasty incident."
Batook Pandya, director of Support Against Racist Incidents (Sari) said it needed to work with all the communities in Bristol to make women feel safe.
He said Sari's caseload with the Somali community had increased tremendously.
"Women are telling us they are absolutely frightened even to go outside their home to drop their children at school
"Some say they want to leave the city and go away because it is not a safe place to be in," he said
Bristol City Council said it was determined to tackle racism.
Councillor Peter Hammond, said: "If people have real grievances or imagined grievances against individuals or other parts of the community they should not be doing this type of action which is absolutely appalling and disgusting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6905917.stm
Some families are saying they want to leave the city
Somali women living in Bristol are increasingly being targeted in racist attacks, say support groups.
A number of women have been injured by gangs throwing stones. Support Against Racist Incidents said the Hillfields area was of particular concern.
Kayse Mohammed, from the Somali Voice newspaper, said: "We're are calling on the authorities to do something before it is too late. It is unacceptable."
There are 20,000 Somalis living in Bristol, up from 4,000 five years ago.
On Wednesday morning a pregnant Somali woman in the Hillfields area of the city was attacked with stones then beaten in front of her two-year-old daughter.
I don't understand why they hate us - why are they doing this to us?
Race attack victim
The woman who does not want to be identified, said she was putting her daughter in her car seat when she heard a noise.
Her attacker shouted at her then threw rocks at her from a nearby garden
She tried to defend herself with an umbrella but the attacker took it from her and used it to beat her
"It destroyed my feeling of being safe anyway. I think there should be more things done and the community should be aware of what's happening to us.
"I don't understand why they hate us - why are they doing this to us?
"I really don't understand and I cannot believe a human can do this to another human," she said
Nasty incident
Avon and Somerset Police said it was taking the assaults "very seriously".
Detective Chief Inspector David McCallum is taking personal charge of this latest case.
"This particular incident was a particularly distasteful one in that a pregnant woman with a child was targeted.
Women are telling us they are absolutely frightened even to go outside their home to drop their children at school
Batook Pandya, Support Against Racist Incidents
"Fortunately she wasn't seriously injured but nevertheless she would have been particularly traumatised by what was a very nasty incident."
Batook Pandya, director of Support Against Racist Incidents (Sari) said it needed to work with all the communities in Bristol to make women feel safe.
He said Sari's caseload with the Somali community had increased tremendously.
"Women are telling us they are absolutely frightened even to go outside their home to drop their children at school
"Some say they want to leave the city and go away because it is not a safe place to be in," he said
Bristol City Council said it was determined to tackle racism.
Councillor Peter Hammond, said: "If people have real grievances or imagined grievances against individuals or other parts of the community they should not be doing this type of action which is absolutely appalling and disgusting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6905917.stm
