Three injured in Dudley protests
Sunday 29th May 2011, 5:00PM BST.
Three people, including a police officer, received head injuries after a protest outside a Sikh community centre in Dudley descended into violence.
West Midlands Police have revealed around 200 people gathered at the Sikh Cultural Centre on Swancote Road yesterday to demonstrate against meat and alcohol being served on the premises.
A spokesman said: “Violence erupted at around 12.45pm when people protesting at the serving of meat and alcohol at the centre forced their way into the building.
“Around 200 people were involved in the protest which resulted in a police officer and two members of the public receiving head injuries.
“All three were taken to hospital where they remain in a stable condition. A second police officer received minor dental injuries.”
Police declined to comment on the exact nature of the injuries, but said some demonstrators were throwing missiles at officers.
Protesters spent around five hours inside the building, only ending their occupation when managers of the centre agreed to ban the supply of meat and alcohol. Police said “significant damage” was caused inside the centre.
Roads around the building were closed to allow emergency services access to the site.
Chief Inspector Deb Doyle said: “What started as a peaceful protest soon turned to violence when a minority of people started throwing missiles at officers and then forced their way inside the centre.
“Once inside they have vandalised the building and refused to leave until the centre managers agreed to ban the supply of meat and alcohol on the premises.
“I would urge those responsible for the violence to hand themselves in to their local police station immediately or face officers arresting them at home in the very near future.”
A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder was later released on police bail bending further inquiries.
Police also added CCTV footage was seized from the site.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dudley police on 0345 113 5000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Were the premises licensed to sell meat and alcohol? If they were, then the rioters were breaking the law. There are proper ways to object to licensed premises, not by violence.
Let us have the facts please, E&S. Then, whatever is revealed, the law must take its course and pursue the offenders.
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I was quite surprised having read the report to find there was an opportunity to Leave a Reply to a report about immigrants. Then I realised it was about Sikhs and not muslims.
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I think that if this had been the work of the EDL the British Broadcasting corporation(s) would have been all over it.
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Hmm, I’m sure the full details of this incident are yet to emerge. However on the surface I would like to ask the WMP how a mob can hijack a community centre for 5 hours, forcing them to comply to their needs amidst a sea of violent thuggery. Surely, it takes more than a minority of people to enact such a campaign?
I don’t really like the message this sends out the wider community. It says submit to our needs and our needs only, or face the consequences. It seems evident to me on the surface that the police could not contain this mob. I stand to be corrected however, given the full facts.
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i think half the police force were there i suppose they were told not to intervene next time anyone disagrees with something it will be worth seeing if the same leniency is to be given
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These guys terrorised 80 year old ladies who were cooking VEGETARIAN meals in the kitchen of the community centre for the sikh temple to distribute to the neady. I met the ladies the next day and they were still frightened for their lives. It brought a tear to my eye that these thugs swore at them and destroyed the kitchen. These guys are terrorists and I hope we can rely on the Police to arrest the organisers because it was all instigated by them.
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I was on my way to the shops with my children when we passed this andgry mob of protestors waving swords about and throwing bricks at police officers, the police did not act swiftly.
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It’s meat and alcohol. If you don’t want it, don’t eat it. Protesting because somebody has a different opinion to you, over something that in the end doesn’t affect you? Petty and stupid.
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Eating meat is not against the Sikh religion.
The only reason why Sikhs don’t serve meat in a temple is because some people would object to meat being there hence it is all vegetarian.
In any case this was not the temple but a seperate hall for parties etc.
These so called protestors are nothing but extremists who should be locked up.
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Don’t associate the majority of law abiding Sikhs with these mindless actions. It is a very small, I stress small minority involved.
In response to England, it has been repeatedly reported on the BBC local news. We don’t want to be labelled on the same level as the EDL or the like
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