icBirmingham - Man stabbed as Sikh festival turns violent
I was at the mela myself. Whilst we was expecting trouble from the Pakistani Muslim youth, who were sending threats during the week leading up to this event, it was obvious they didn't need to show up as our people were too busy fighting between ourselves. It comes down to Gurdwara politics, as the elections take place at Smethwick High Street Gurdwara next week. Very sad.
Apr 23 2007
By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
I was at the mela myself. Whilst we was expecting trouble from the Pakistani Muslim youth, who were sending threats during the week leading up to this event, it was obvious they didn't need to show up as our people were too busy fighting between ourselves. It comes down to Gurdwara politics, as the elections take place at Smethwick High Street Gurdwara next week. Very sad.
Apr 23 2007
By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail
A MAN was today fighting for life in hospital after being stabbed as Vaisakhi celebrations in Birmingham erupted into violence.
More than a dozen other people were also injured in the trouble which began in Handsworth Park and spread to surrounding streets.
A fleet of nine ambulances were sent to scene, and paramedics gave first aid to victims as the violence continued for more than four hours yesterday.
One motorcyclist paramedic had to be escorted from the park after being intimidated by a gang and in a separate incident an ambulance was left with its rear lights smashed.
Police were forced to close the park, in Holly Road, and surrounding roads and urged people to stay away from the area.
More than a dozen other people were also injured in the trouble which began in Handsworth Park and spread to surrounding streets.
A fleet of nine ambulances were sent to scene, and paramedics gave first aid to victims as the violence continued for more than four hours yesterday.
One motorcyclist paramedic had to be escorted from the park after being intimidated by a gang and in a separate incident an ambulance was left with its rear lights smashed.
Police were forced to close the park, in Holly Road, and surrounding roads and urged people to stay away from the area.
The violence started at 3pm and the ambulance service was still receiving 999 calls more than four hours later.
The stabbed man, who has not been named but is in his mid 50s, was today critically ill in hospital.
The other victims were treated at hospitals across the city. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Today, an investigation involving the police and organisers was under way into what went wrong at the normally peaceful event.
An ambulance service spokesman said: "There is no doubt that this was a difficult incident for all of the crews, but they did an excellent job providing care to a range of injuries ranging from minor to severe.
"We would like to pay credit to a number of police officers who came across a man with an arterial bleed and who had lost a large quantity of blood.
"They applied a pressure dressing to stem the blood loss until the ambulance staff could get to the man."
BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Man stabbed amid festival trouble
BBC NEWS | England | West Midlands | Man stabbed amid festival trouble
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Last edited:
so tragic.. :shock:
