Sunday saw escalating violence and civil unrest throughout the UK, with Middlesbrough’s Teesside area hit particularly hard.
Reports detail serious attacks on property and police, cars overturned and torched, and wheelie bins set on fire and used as weapons against law enforcement. Rioters targeted buildings, including the local University and Teesside Crown Court. The chaos lasted around 11 hours, resulting in 43 arrests.
In response, the Teesside community has overcome fear and united in peace, sending a clear message: “Not in our name.”
One project that has stood out is the cleanup operation by the Amal Project Teesside. A community project that delivers food hampers to the needy, it is funded by donations from the local community and businesses. It works closely with schools, community centres and local families – and even helps with the local football club.
The Asian Standard spoke with one of its organisers, Sahida Ditta, whose motto is: “Stand up for what is right. Even if it means standing alone!”
Sahida detailed the fear that both herself and her community felt while the violence was happening: “People in the area were very scared when it was going on because the rioters were literally outside their front doors. They were going down residential side streets and smashing the windows on cars, setting cars on fire and smashing the windows on cars. The scene this morning was terrible – there was upwards of 100 houses damaged. It was awful.”
She continued to describe the fear that Muslims expressed to her: “I have been receiving messages from ladies in particular who wear the Hijab, asking if it was safe for them to go out. They say their children are scared and don’t understand.”
Despite the widespread fear generate by the violence, there was a strong community response by everyday people who came together to stand up and help those in need.
“People from different faiths and backgrounds were brought together to work on this. We are all about breaking down barriers. A reverend from our local church, the Masjid, and a police officer and myself came together to organise what we call the borough cleanup.
When I shared it on Facebook, the response was incredible, I was getting hundreds and hundreds of messages.”
This spirit was evident in the people who gathered on Monday morning to help clean up the damage caused by the rioters.
Sahida described how volunteers cleaned up glass and debris and were joined by window fitters, who helped replace smashed windows on homes. She told Asian Standard: “Before even 8am there was over 250 people there, with brushes and gloves.
“As the morning went on, more and more people were involved, I would say upwards of three hundred people were involved in the clear up.
“Whatever people could do to help, they did. People came to say that they were standing with us, and to give us a hug.”
Also involved in the clean up were people from one of the local mosques. The official spokesperson from the Jamia Masjid Al- Madina in Middlesbrough, Najabat Ramzan talked about his experiences:
“It was important for the town to get together and show these thugs that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. We take pride in our town, and as a community we got together to show our solidarity this morning. Regardless of what happens we are united. This was the message we want to send out.”
Mr Ramzan gave his view on what caused the rioting: “The media has a lot to do with it. These people need educating. Find out the facts first before you act.
“They did not just target the Muslim community; they targeted the whole community – everyone from different backgrounds. The houses were targeted, the cars were targeted – they did not know who that car belonged to, whether it was a Muslim or a Christian or a Jew.
“They just needed an excuse to cause a riot and cause criminal damage. They need to be taught by the police who is in charge – the country and the law.”
He went on to talk of the fears expressed by people in his community:
“We spoke to worshippers who came to pray. They were scared, some were frightened to come to the Mosque on their own. We had ladies scared to do everyday things such as take a walk in the park or town centre, normal things citizens like to do in their town.
“When you are just watching telly, and someone puts a brick through your window – of course that’s going to scare you. I feel sorry for the elderly regardless of what faith they are – many of them live on their own and when you get a window, or a car smashed outside it scares them.
The police need to put a stop to this – even get the army out if they must.”
He went on to describe how the community wants to stamp out further violence and send the message – ‘no this is not in our name.’
“That is the message we are sending out to people. I have been in touch with a lot of different communities, brothers from the Sikh community, the Hindu and Jewish community, and Christians.
Everyone has the same message that we are staying united, these rioters do not represent any of us.”
When asked how he and his community would directly respond to the rioters, he commented: “Please come and talk to us. There are cups of tea and biscuits for you. I will sit down I will talk to you. I will answer any questions or issues that you have. Being a Muslim is a Faith of peace. If you would like to come to our Mosque and speak with us, our doors are open twenty-four seven.”
Cleveland Police have been commended for their work in Middlesbrough, with members of the community dropping off gifts of thanks and offering to cook meals for them.
The Police have extended their thanks to the community and assured residents:
“There will be an increased police presence across our towns and communities in the coming days, providing reassurance to residents and speaking to members of the public about their concerns.
“We are aware of information currently in circulation on social media and other platforms about further activity in the area and we’re monitoring the situation closely.
“Cleveland Police’s focus remains firmly on protecting people, protecting communities, and taking robust action against those who are intent on causing violence and fear across Teesside.”
