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H S Rao in London
Close on the heels of riots in Oldham, near Manchester, a battle between Asian youths and skinheads in Buckinghamshire ended in gunshots, witnesses have claimed.
An Asian claimed that the events in the town of Aylesbury, with a population of 60,000, including 5,000 ethnic minorities, predominantly Pakistani, began on Saturday, when an Asian boy was attacked by skinheads in a park.
On Sunday night, up to 60 Asian youths and some Black teenagers, armed with cricket and baseball bats, bottles and bricks, descended on a house, where a group of skinheads were partying.
Witnesses alleged that the skinheads taunted the Asians, saying "Combat 18 (a neo-Nazi group) are going to get you tonight."
The youths responded with racial abuse, hurling missiles at the windows and doors, and smashing three cars and a van parked outside. According to neighbours, three shots were fired at the house.
Police said reports of a firearm were "speculation", but an Asian present, Said Khan, said, "One of the Asian boys let off a gun to let them know we mean business."
After the shots, the Asian crowd melted away, and about seven skinheads ran out armed with knives, baseball bats and a nunchuck, a martial arts weapon.
A police helicopter arrived overhead soon after, followed by officers who spread out in search of the Asian crowd. The skinheads retreated into the house following a brief stand-off with police, witnesses said.
Police arrested 24 persons following the incident.
On Monday night, four white men were charged: a 34-year old accused of assaulting a police officer was remanded to custody while a 38-year-old was charged with possessing an offensive weapon.
A third, 35-year-old, was accused of assaulting a police officer and a fourth, 19-year-old, was held for resisting arrest. Five other White men were released on bail pending further inquiries, police said.
Ten local Asian men aged between 18 and 31, and a 20-year-old man of mixed race, have been bailed pending further inquiries.
Three local black men, aged 15, 16 and 37, and an Asian teenager, were released without charge, the police said.
In a joint statement with the mayor of Aylesbury Raj Khan, Thames valley police said the situation was not linked to rioting in Oldham.
"Whether they are white extremists or Asians, I condemn both. We have never had this kind of trouble in Aylesbury before. It is a pleasant part of Buckinghamshire but no different to any other town," Khan said.
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