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Masked gang smashes up pub
Date published: 09/11/2009
A MASKED gang smashed up a Clarksfield pub shortly after a packed fireworks display.
Several children were still in the Friendship Inn, Lees Road, when a table was thrown at a window and the fruit machine picked up and smashed.
The trouble flared at around 9.15pm on bonfire night when around 12 men went into the pub.
Initially there there was no problem and landlord Geoff Smith said: “It happened in no time. They said something, put on balaclavas and started smashing the place up. It was just mayhem and then they scarpered as quickly as they had come.
“If it had happened earlier, a lot of people would have got hurt. The vast majority of the children had gone by then.”
Around 60 children had attended the popular fireworks display at the pub. At the time of the attack about 30 people were in the pub, including seven or eight children.
The attackers were described as Asian and were accompanied by another 30 to 40 people who stayed outside.
Landlady Pauline Phillips believes the pub may have been targeted in a case of mistaken identity.
She does not think the attack was racist and added: “We have the firework party every year. We have never had any trouble. I do not know what it going on.”
Police are investigating the incident.
A police spokesman said the trouble had begun as a fight outside the pub and around 15 youths had spilled inside to turn tables over and cause other damage.
“There were no injuries and the crime had been classed as criminal damage.
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161-872 5050.
Have Your Say
YOu have to love these Police PC descriptions. No mention that the gang were all carrying balaclavas and were obviously prepared for what they did, if this was a fight why did they smash the pub up but not attack anyone?
I expect that if a half hearyed investigation finds anyone they'll be given a caution, after all that's the way that the Police deal with violent crime now!
A gang of over 40 Asians smash a pub up for no apparent reason? Pull the other one! It is yet ANOTHER attempt by some members of the Muslim community to close down the pubs in their areas. I suppose thats not racist though as the victims were white.
now if it had been a gang of white people smashing up a mosque it would most definately be classed as racially motivated.
the police will tread with care not to offend the asian community. they always do. they why this areas are still no go areas. nothings changed from the riots!
at least it should be violent disorder not criminal damage
and also if this was a white grooup wrecking an Asian place up it be classed as a rasist crime one rule for Asians and one for everyone else
Not racist.
Can you imagine the racial uproar if up to 50 white idiots in balaclavas atacked a kebab shop or asian restaurant.
the landlord should have told the police it was football fans they would have been there in a flash sectioned 60 everyone and escorted them away, simples
p c doesnt stand for police constable it stands for politically correct,
Here we go again, one more incident that'll inflame feelings throughout the borough. I'm waiting for the meely mouthed apologists for this systematic ethnic cleansing to come to the fore, explaining that it was only a few ( 30 plus ) hotheads who were provoked by the actions of the locals engaged as they were in thoughtless activities ; drinking alcohol, having a good time etc. I truly feel sorry for the Police as the cracks they will be expected to paper over are ever widening.
Unbelievable, this sort of criminality led to the riots in Oldham some years ago, a gang of asian thugs burst in and smashed up the ‘Live and let Live’ on Glodwick rd, no arrests then, surprise surprise. Imagine a group of whites smashing up a social meeting place for Asians there would be an outcry of ‘Racist attack’ The police are wrong to class this as just criminal damage. This type of policing leads to resentment and feelings of injustice in the white community.
what has oldham come to.if this was the other way round.we would not hear the last of it somewere something has gone wrong.but how do you get justice.when the police are to scared to front up.a worried oldamer
one rule for one another rule for another !!!
Yer've gone quiet Fightback!
A racial crime doesn't mean that the victim and perpetrator are different - it means the victim (or the Police) believe it to be racially motivated. The Landlady stated 'She does not think the attack was racist'. She was the victim and therefore the Police have to go with that.
Something else drove this and the Landlady saying she believes it's a case of mistaken identity is probably true. Disturbingly that means that the real target has yet to be attacked.
Ruffyed - Unlike you I refuse to defend the actions of criminals bsased on their race. A planned attack on an "innocent" pub, "ethnic cleansing, one rule for one" ...what a load of Bol****s.
Interesting story of this targetted attack, wonder if we'll hear it? and by the way there were alot of arrests after the "Live and Let live" pub attack started by "non-asians" attacking residents in a nearby Asian house.
I too feel sorry for the Police and the press when they are expected to dress this activity up as something else just so that they do not upset a certain section of our community. How long they can do this is unknown. Let's not do or say anything that will 'upset or make our young men restless' though!! Thin ice.
Police need to tougher and there should be CCTV cameras an all public places, we may not have seen their faces but Im sure we could have seen how they got away...car reg numbers, etc, someone will have seen something. And if they put their balaclavas on after then Im sure someoone will have seen enough to give a good description to the police. Disgraceful. what is the town coming to
Fightback,I think your recent ludicrous comments have become a recruiting tool for the far right.As for the "Live and let" comment, the pub wasnt even attacked on the same day, it was retaliation on innocent people and the ensuing riot was the usual type of overreaction to the attack to which you allude. Live and let is now an asian clothing shop. Mission accomplished
First the Live and let live ,now the Friendship. No doubt the irony is lost on the attackers
touched a nerve Fightback !!
dempsey - Couldn't care less if you think my comments help the far right. Far right were recruiting long before I decided to fightback. I know why the Live and Let Live pub was attacked so dont try and change history.
Dispair - You're the one with nerve, you keep quiet when challenged on your bigoted comments, then think you are making some huge point by having a go at me. Keep it coming. The more comments from you, the more left wing and determined I become.
This is a prime example of where this country has gone wrong. A group numbering around 50 smashing a public house to bits is not criminal damage, its a riot. I assume the Police arrived within the hour and no arrests will be forthcoming. No doubt we have to tread carefully as not to upset anyone.
By timberwolf @ 09/11/2009 13:47:04
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