British police release dossier of photos of race-riot suspects

TWENTY photographs of men suspected of taking part in “ferocious” clashes with police during recent riots in Bradford have been released. More than 300 officers were injured in violent disturbances in the West Yorkshire city on July 7.Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken limbs. Detective Chief Superintendent Max McLean, who is leading the inquiry, has also released police video footage of the disturbances. As pictures of 20 suspects were released, Mr McLean said:

“These people are not just faces in the crowd. These people committed crimes. All we need is a name and we will track them down and arrest them.

“When I saw the film, I was moved by the severity of it. It is film from police evidence-gathering teams just behind the police lines.

“My first thought was that I want to release this to the media before anyone else sees it, even police officers.”

The video shows officers lying on the floor injured, missiles and petrol bombs being hurled at the police, and cars set on fire. The graphic evidence also shows lines of officers being pelted constantly with bricks.

Frantic shouts of “medic” can be heard at one point by concerned colleagues after one officer was hit by a missile. Mr McLean said: “It must have been a horrendous experience for these officers. These were officers who normally work on the beat – not riot police – who were given protective equipment to wear.”

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