A group of young men listen to community leaders at a public meeting in Albert Road, Aston
Police patrols were out in force on the streets of Handsworth and Lozells last night following two nights of violence and disorder.
After Saturday night's bloodshed and rioting, a man was shot dead in nearby Newtown in the early hours of yesterday morning and more sporadic outbreaks of disorder occurred in the area earlier on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, West Midlands Police confirmed it was gathering evidence of the involvement of pirate radio DJs in spreading rumours about the gang-rape of a 14-year-old Jamaican girl in an Asian shop - the alleged incident which caused the simmering inter-racial tension that erupted in violence over the weekend.
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Superintendent Tom Coughlan, addressing an open air meeting of Asians, said: "It's more than one DJ, you know that as well as I do.
Two men were released today by officers investigating the murder of a teenager who was shot in the head near the scene of rioting in Birmingham. The victim, named in reports as 18-year-old Aaron James, was killed at about 12.40am yesterday in Newtown, less than a mile from the riot-hit Lozells area. A West Midlands Police spokesman said two local men, aged 19 and 24, had been freed without charge. The pair were taken into custody yesterday on suspicion of murder. West Midlands Police have yet to release the victim's name officially, but have confirmed that he died of a gunshot wound to the head. Officers have so far declined to speculate on whether the death was linked to Saturday's violence in neighbouring Lozells, which left one man dead and more than 30 other people in hospital. |
"We are considering their role in the light of events." Earlier, police said it was too early to link the fatal shooting of a 18-year-old "mixed race" man in Birmingham with the riots.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder in Melbourne Road, which happened less than a mile from the Lozells Road flashpoint for Saturday's trouble in which a black man was fatally stabbed.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission are investigating the shooting because it involved the deployment of armed officers responding to reports of an armed man in the area.
Last night the IPCC confirmed that no police weapon had been fired during the incident.
"We have now established that one bullet has been recovered from the deceased's body.
"This bullet is not a calibre bullet consistent with any that is issued to the police."
Detective Chief Inspector Keith Wilson said: "We have got two males in custody. They have not been charged. They are black and local men. They were detained shortly after the incident, just a short distance away from the scene.
"There were a number of incidents reported to the police at the time that may or may not be connected in that vicinity, so I am keeping an open mind."
"I live down one street off Lozells. "Those that are not involved directly are also to blame. The parents and elders who watched from the windows knew that their kids were out that night. "I know a few on my street had left their house with baseball bats. "I knew on Friday and was told to stay indoors - word on the street - riots were taking place and people were tooling themselves up. "Soon I am going to be moving to another area - I'm sick of this madness!" Ali Hasan, Birmingham "I am disgusted by the riots that took place last weekend. I can't believe how society has reacted to this situation, violence is not the answer. "The Sikh community are also being wrongly attacked. I was at work at the time when violence had erupted on my street. "Cars smashed, windows broken, businesses looted and, worst of all innocent people attacked, it's just inhuman." Baljit Singh Banga, Handsworth "This girl needs to come forward, or else people will have died in vain." Caroline |
The latest fatal incident followed what police described as sporadic outbreaks of disorder on Sunday night of a "considerably lower scale" than Saturday night's clashes.
At about 10.30pm, a gang of up to 100 Asian youths were seen running down Lozells Road in a display that one protester said was an act to "reclaim our streets".
Police officers, many in full riot gear, spread out across the area to break up the main body of the gang and prevent a major disturbance.
On Saturday, shops and pubs were ransacked and cars set on fire during the clash which is thought to have involved up to 50 rioters. Hundreds of police in riot gear were attacked with bricks and bottles.
One man, of Afro-Caribbean origin, received a single fatal stab wound in Carlyle Road at about 7pm. The attack is thought to have been the catalyst for the night of "extreme violence".
A police officer was shot in the leg with a ball-bearing gun. He is said to be in a stable condition.
Detective Superintendent Dave Mirfield, leading the murder hunt, said police had received 12 reports of gunfire during the disturbances and 80 crimes were reported, with 35 people taken to hospital and treated for injuries including stabbing and gunshot wounds as well as broken bones.
Five people were arrested in connection with the disorder.
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