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25 injured as Australian race riots spread
MORE than 20 people have been injured and 16 arrested as race-fuelled violence spread through Sydney's beachside suburbs overnight.A series of apparent revenge attacks - including two stabbings - happened after yesterday's unrest at Cronulla where more than 5000 people had massed. New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma today said police were in control of the situation, after officers and an ambulance crew were earlier assaulted during the peak of racial tension. Drunken mobs within the crowd at Cronulla yelled racist chants, chased down and bashed people of Middle Eastern appearance in an extended show of violence. As the unrest spread overnight, a total of 25 people - including two ambulance officers - had been injured, about 40 cars vandalised and an Australian flag burned. Police said 16 people were arrested across Sydney and charged with 42 offences. Mr Iemma today described the behaviour as "stomach turning" and said it would not be tolerated. "I saw yesterday people trying to hide behind the Australian flag, well they are cowards whose behaviour will not be tolerated," Mr Iemma said. "That was the most disgraceful, disgusting behaviour that I've ever seen." Mr Iemma said he planned to bring together community leaders for discussions about how to prevent further violence. Police had the resources and the equipment to deal with the violent scenes, he said. Police were forced to use capsicum spray and batons in their battle to subdue the Cronulla rioters, who pelted officers with bottles and stomped on patrol cars. Later, a 23-year-old man was injured and more than 40 cars smashed with baseball bats in an apparent revenge attack at Maroubra, in Sydney's east. A group of about 60 men of Middle Eastern appearance and armed with baseball bats smashed the windows of parked cars about 9pm (AEDT). The group then clashed with local gang, the Bra Boys, outside the Maroubra Bay Hotel. A 23-year-old Maroubra man was taken to Prince of Wales hospital after he was stabbed with a sharp implement, believed to be a stick or nail, in the hip. Later, a second 23-year-old man was stabbed in the back by a group of males, described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, at a golf club at Woolooware, in Sydney's south. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Riot police were also called to Brighton-le-Sands, in Sydney's south, overnight to control a group of about 200 brawling youths who had reportedly thrown projectiles at police. Twelve people were arrested at Cronulla. They will face Sutherland Local Court at a date to be fixed. Posted by: Oztralian 2005-12-11 |
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