"LIFE FOR A LIFE" FEAR IN LOZELLS SHOOTING

30-11-2006

The Stirrer's soundings in Lozells are not positive, with fears growing that the area's latest gunshot casualty was an innocent victim of the growing racial conflict between African-Caribbean residents and those of Pakistani Muslim descent.

One source told the Stirrer that the word on the street was that shopkeeper Busharat Ali had been killed in revenge for the slaying of Meshack Tesfa Bernard-Brown, murdered in nearby Newtown just over a fortnight ago. Ali, aged just 23, was gunned down last night as he closed up his grocery store on Villa Road. [previous story here]

It is also being claimed that the killings are being ordered by the bosses of rival gangs who are currently in prison.

Whether or not these rumours are true, they are being widely circulated in the area, adding to the spirallinginter-ethnic tension.

What is beyond doubt is the frustration of some members of the African-Caribbean community at what they regard as the police's slow response to Bernard-Brown's death. The Stirrer was asked: “How come they haven't arrested anybody yet? There were supposed to have been 20 or 30 people involved, so how come nobody saw anything.”

Another contact said: “The danger now is that the battle lines have been drawn. If this was a ‘life for a life killing' - and we don't know for sure yet that it was - we don't whether this will be the end of the matter, or whether it will kick off. People are trying to avoid that at all costs.”

The police will clearly need support from all sections of the community if they are to solve these awful crimes, but it is clear from what we've been told that there is suspicion that the boys and girls in blue are not entirely even handed when it comes to dealing with different communities. That may be both unfair and untrue, but as long as the perception remains, so will the mistrust.