Traders seek police protection

BENGALI shopkeepers are demanding greater protection from the police after the spate of attacks on Asians living in the Somers Town area of Camden, north London, writes Danny Penman. Racial tensions are running high in the area after the killing of a white teenager, Richard Everitt, by a gang of Asian youths on Sunday night, the attack on an Asian family on Monday, and the fire-bombing of a Bengali butcher's shop on Tuesday night.

Sikandar Khan, manager of the Al Amin Halal butchers in Crowndale Road, estimated pounds 30,000 damage was caused after youths petrol-bombed the shop. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said officers were already heavily policing the area to try to stop the violence escalating.

A 24-hour helpline - 071-388 7313 - has been set up by local groups. A spokesman said the helpline was for people of any race who had been attacked or feared attack.