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Racist thugs attack in park

Ailsa Cranna
10/11/2005

THIS is the shocking moment when members of the Jewish community were attacked by anti-Semitic gangs in a popular Higher Broughton park.

One woman had her hair pulled by a screaming teenage girl as she attempted to protect her children from the thugs.

The mum, who asked not to be named for fear she would be targeted again, was then kicked as she lay on the ground.

Recovering from her bruises this week, she spoke of the racist attack, which took place on Thursday, October 27 as families played happily together in Mandley Park.

She said: "People of all faiths and colour use the park and there has never been any serious incidents before, just name calling, but this incident was racist and ugly.

"My children were playing with friends and there was a large group of non-Jewish teenagers playing football nearby.

"The teenagers started kicking the ball deliberately at the youngsters and taunting them with a dog on a lead, which was frightening the little ones.

"I calmly asked them to stop and before I knew what was happening this teenage girl came up to me, started screaming abuse.

"She kicked me as I fell to the ground. I tried to protect myself as she was raining blows on me and eventually she was pulled off me."

As the gang was leaving the park, two Jewish teenagers were coming in through the gates and they were subjected to racist abuse.

That was captured on film by one of the Jewish mums, using her mobile phone.

A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust, which represents the Jewish community on anti-Semitism, said: "We are deeply concerned that people have suffered from such abuse, and are working closely with the police to resolve this incident and ensure that the entire community can be confident for their safety.

"We would ask anyone who encounters such attacks to report them to us and the police."

The contact number for the CST, emergencies only, is: 0800 980 0668.