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business rivals for starting the rumour. A public meeting was held on
Saturday 22 October at the New Testament Church of God. At around 17:45 the meeting ended and violence erupted outside. Gangs of men fought running battles and at 19:15 Isaiah Young-Sam, who later died, was stabbed. Young-Sam had not been present at the meeting, or been involved in the running battles between gangs of youths, he had been at a cinema in the city centre with friends before being forced off his bus home due to it being diverted because of the public disorder. As he and his friends made their way on foot down a side street they were confronted by a group of Asian Youths who chased them down and stabbed Isaiah. As the night progressed the police recorded 80 offences occurring. Rioting also occurred to a lesser extent during the night of 23 October. Between 30 and 50 individuals were thought to be involved in the most serious incidents.
256:, the leading black newspaper in Britain, for reporting the alleged rape in terms that suggested it was unchallenged fact (the newspaper had headlined "Gang of 19 rape teen"). The rumours were picked up by two Caribbean websites Blacknet and Supertrax which each allowed their chatrooms to post reactions from around the country. Supertrax reported that Lozells was swarming with "Paki gangs" with "sumtin to prove"; whilst Blacknet, a website promoted by
260:, printed various contributions one of which was: "I hope Asian women are getting their throats cut as we speak", followed by a response: "Narrow it down to Pakistani women and I'll agree with you". After the riot, Blacknet apologised and removed what it called "absolutely disgusting" material posted on its site.
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men. The rape allegation has never been substantiated. No evidence has been found to support the rumour nor has any victim come forward (further rumours asserted that this was because the victim was present in
Britain unlawfully and feared deportation). The clashes involved groups of Caribbean and
238:
insulting
Muslims. The leaflets were signed by a group calling itself "Black Nation". There is no previous history of any such organisation and it is not known whether it does in fact exist. Dr John Sentamu, the first African archbishop in the Church of England, strongly condemned the desecrations.
233:
Three men were convicted, but after a subsequent retrial acquitted of the murder of Isaiah Young-Sam. A man pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Aaron James. In July 2007 six people were convicted of various offences related to the riots; four men were subsequently jailed in
November 2007. In May
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status the girl supposedly refused to provide a statement to the police. The police appealed for any evidence of the event occurring and stated at the very least her immigrant status would not be an issue until after the allegations had been dealt with. Despite the appeal, forensic searches and
229:
along with one of its DJs 'Warren G' discussed the details of the alleged rape and a picket was set up outside the premises of the shop in question. There were also calls for boycotts of other
British Asian businesses. Ajaib Hussein, 33, the shop owner denied the event ever occurred and blamed
237:
In the aftermath of the riots a solidarity march for unity was conducted by
Caribbean, white and British Asian women and children. On 5 November 2005 graves in the Muslim part of a local cemetery were desecrated. Vandals who pushed over and destroyed several grave stones left behind leaflets
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There has never been agreement on the date the alleged rape occurred and the exact circumstances remain unclear: descriptions of the event change dependent on source. The earliest news items concerning the issue seem to begin with the
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British
Pakistani men committing serious acts of violence against various targets from both communities. The riots were connected to the deaths of two men, 23-year-old Isaiah Young-Sam and 18-year-old Aaron James.
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188:. The problems specific to the Lozells area appear to be centered on the prevalence of Asian-owned businesses, the "unfair treatment" and "derogatory attitudes" of each community to the other.
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heritage attempting to shoplift from a branch of "Beauty Queen
Cosmetics". The girl was then raped by a group of eight to nineteen Pakistani origin men. Afraid of being deported due to her
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origin. The animosity that preceded the rioting appears to have been largely based on local economic rivalry combined with possible agitation from opposing criminal gangs.
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questioning of several individuals, the allegations have never been substantiated and no witnesses have come forward, nor was the girl - ever identified.
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of 2005 occurred on two consecutive nights on
Saturday 22 October and Sunday 23 October 2005 in the
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364:"A rumour, outrage and then a riot. How tension in a Birmingham suburb erupted"
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655:"The Lozells riots: could they happen again in Britain's diverse communities?"
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Actions against memorials in Great
Britain during the George Floyd protests
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picked up and commented upon a backdrop of mutual ethnic minority
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628:"Rape triggers a night of violence — but did it really happen?"
515:, "Birminghammail.net", 16 May 2008, retrieved 30 August 2009.
198:
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communities, with the spark for the riot being an alleged
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reporting a "Stop traffic" protest on 18 October 2005.
410:, "BBC", 17 February 2010, retrieved 17 February 2010.
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BBC News article: "Fear and rumours grip Birmingham"
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538:, "BBC", 26 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.
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700:(UK) newspaper: "The new colour of British racism"
576:, "BBC", 5 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.
484:"Four jailed for their parts in the Lozells riots"
145:origin. The black population is predominantly of
557:, "BBC", 4 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009
176:community but also included tensions between the
587:"Voice censured for Birmingham 'rape' reporting"
429:, "BBC", 21 April 2006, retrieved 16 March 2009.
448:, "BBC", 17 July 2007, retrieved 16 March 2009.
617:, 29 November 2005, retrieved 18 October 2009.
593:, 21 February 2006, retrieved 18 October 2009.
398:, "BBC", 22 May 2006, retrieved 16 March 2009.
263:The riots were the subject of a retrospective
1523:Riots and civil disorder in the West Midlands
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643:, 24 October 2005, retrieved 18 October 2009.
408:"Three not guilty over Birmingham riot death"
8:
713:(UK): "One dead, ten injured in 'rape' riot"
692:BBC News: "'80 crimes' in night of violence"
1364:George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom
379:, 24 October 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.
353:, 18 October 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.
204:The rumours involved a 14-year-old girl of
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718:"Photographs of the 1985 Handsworth riots"
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1513:October 2005 events in the United Kingdom
529:"Women and children hold community vigil"
472:, 18 July 2007, retrieved 16 March 2009.
459:"Rioters convicted for Lozells violence"
723:Darcus Howe bids farewell to Rosa Parks
311:"BBC on the 2005 Birmingham race riots"
302:
141:population in the Lozells area are of
124:of a teenage black girl by a group of
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1493:History of Birmingham, West Midlands
321:from the original on 29 October 2005
851:1768 Massacre of St George's Fields
728:Politics of the Ghetto (Nick Cohen)
567:"Grave damage angers former bishop"
420:"Man jailed for killing his friend"
389:"Three guilty of riot night murder"
1518:2005 murders in the United Kingdom
1508:2000s in Birmingham, West Midlands
1488:Crime in Birmingham, West Midlands
1236:1999 Carnival Against Capital riot
665:from the original on 17 April 2023
653:Bassey, Amardeep (17 April 2023).
482:Ross McCarthy (23 November 2007).
25:
548:"Muslim graves destroyed in city"
439:"Six guilty over city race riots"
340:"'Assault' protest stops traffic"
152:During a 2004 documentary titled
27:2005 riots in Birmingham, England
1316:2011 Stokes Croft riot (Bristol)
494:from the original on 11 May 2011
1321:2011 UK anti-austerity protests
1283:2009 G20 London summit protests
1216:1994 Criminal Justice Bill riot
776:1189–1190 Massacres of the Jews
513:"Lozells rioter fled to London"
108:. The riots were derived from
1206:1992 Hartcliffe riot (Bristol)
1075:1974 Red Lion Square disorders
1019:1932 Old Market riot (Bristol)
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1326:2011 London anti-cuts protest
951:1838 Battle of Bossenden Wood
907:1816 Ely and Littleport riots
881:1795 Revolt of the housewives
1191:1990 Strangeways Prison riot
1049:1958 Notting Hill race riots
1034:1943 Battle of Bamber Bridge
966:1866 Hyde Park demonstration
786:1355 St Scholastica Day riot
1231:1996 Trafalgar Square riots
1029:1936 Battle of Cable Street
861:1776 Nottingham cheese riot
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1024:1932 National Hunger March
1014:1919 Luton Peace Day riots
18:2005 Birmingham race riots
1483:British Pakistani history
1442:Territorial Support Group
1386:2024 United Kingdom riots
1158:Murder of Keith Blakelock
1153:1985 Broadwater Farm riot
1090:1979 Death of Blair Peach
1009:1919 Battle of Bow Street
705:Scotland on Sunday report
444:15 September 2007 at the
154:Who You Callin' a Nigger?
81:
1311:2010 UK student protests
961:1865 Leeds dripping riot
876:1793 Bristol Bridge riot
534:26 November 2020 at the
425:20 December 2006 at the
362:Hugh Muir, Riazat Butt,
246:On 21 February 2006 the
1473:Anti-Pakistan sentiment
1085:1977 Battle of Lewisham
917:1821 Cinderloo Uprising
345:6 November 2005 at the
267:podcast, made in 2023.
225:stations, most notably
184:as well as inter-Asian
156:writer and broadcaster
1336:Killing of Mark Duggan
1288:Death of Ian Tomlinson
1196:1991 Meadow Well riots
1070:1970 Garden House riot
912:1819 Peterloo Massacre
856:1769 Spitalfield riots
824:1710 Sacheverell riots
808:1668 Bawdy House riots
633:7 October 2008 at the
394:3 January 2007 at the
1503:Race riots in England
1478:Black British history
1437:Public Order Act 1986
1376:2022 Leicester unrest
1278:2005 Birmingham riots
1201:1991 Handsworth riots
1143:1985 Handsworth riots
1136:1981 Handsworth riots
1121:1981 Chapeltown riots
1039:1944 Park Street riot
902:1816 Spa Fields riots
829:1714 Coronation riots
791:1381 Peasants' Revolt
659:Religion Media Centre
287:1991 Handsworth riots
282:1985 Handsworth riots
277:1981 Handsworth riots
77:Casualties and losses
35:2005 Birmingham riots
1341:House of Reeves fire
1295:2009 Upton Park riot
1221:1995 Manningham riot
1165:1987 Chapeltown riot
1080:1975 Chapeltown riot
999:1907 Brown Dog riots
897:1809 Old Price riots
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609:29 July 2024 at the
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137:The majority of the
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1273:2001 Harehills riot
1263:2001 Bradford riots
1186:1990 Poll Tax riots
1131:1981 Moss Side riot
1044:1945 Aldershot riot
769:12th–17th centuries
604:"Rumours of a riot"
464:20 May 2008 at the
317:. 25 October 2005.
258:The British Council
178:Caribbean community
1331:2011 England riots
1211:1993 Welling riots
1170:1989 Dewsbury riot
1126:1981 Toxteth riots
1111:1981 England riots
1106:1980 St Pauls riot
1054:1968 student riots
971:1887 Bloody Sunday
956:1842 Pottery Riots
939:1831 Bristol riots
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781:The revolt of 1196
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