Community leaders in Preston are vowing to work together to avoid a repeat of disturbances in which an Asian teenager was stabbed outside a mosque. The pledge came after a three-hour meeting in Avenham involving police, politicians and community leaders.
About 200 people were involved in trouble on Sunday night after what police said were racially motivated attacks on cars parked at a mosque. Lancashire Police said bricks and concrete blocks were thrown at cars of people attending the Jamia Masjid mosque on Clarendon Street Sunday night.
Extra patrols have been mounted in the area. There were no problems overnight.
Ch Supt Mike Barton, of Lancashire Constabulary, met with local residents on Monday along with community leaders and councillors from Preston Council.
After the meeting, council chief executive Jim Carr read out a short statement which blamed the trouble on a “minority of criminals”.
He said: “Following the recent incidents in the Avenham area of the city, instigated by a small minority of individuals linked to criminal activity, we the wider community of Preston resolve to work closely together to tackle those individuals and make Avenham safe.”
Lancashire Police said bricks and concrete blocks were thrown at cars of people attending the Jamia Masjid mosque on Clarendon Street Sunday night.
About 100 officers were called to the scene after disorder broke out, though there were no arrests. A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the arm but was not seriously injured.