![[Map of shootings and related incidents, July 14 to July 31]](Bradfordmap.gif)
Updated September 2000
The recent wave of shootings and related incidents in Bradford have caused major concern, particularly as it seems to indicate an casual willingness by would-be gangsters to resort to extreme violence.
These are just some of the reported incidents since mid-July (see map at foot). Reports are taken from newspapers including the T&A, Yorkshire Post and Independent.
(1)
At around 6.45 pm a Vauxhall Omega is trashed by African-Carribean youths in Green Lane, Manningham. This is believed to be linked with a dispute in a pub 2 days earlier involving Dexter Coleman and another African-Carribean man.(2)
At 7.30 pm. over 2 dozen mainly Asian men pile from cars outside the Young Lion cafe, armed with baseball bats, hockey sticks and at least one .45 handgun. Dexter Coleman is shot in the back, but manages to crawl into the Young Lion cafe. Another 34 year old African-Carribean man is badly beaten. Others lock themselves in the cafe cellar. A 999 call is logged by the police at 7.39. The Toller Lane "Fortress" police station is close by. An unarmed woman officer gets to the scene at 7.46. An ambulance is finally allowed through just before 8 pm. Dexter is by now dead.(3)
At 1.30 am. a 20 year old Asian man is shot in the leg whilst walking down Woodhead Rd, Lidget Green, by what police describe as a "small calibre" weapon.(4)
At 10 pm. there is a "stand off" between a group of African-Carribean youths and Asian youths. This follows an incident in a video shop where a African-Carribean woman is insulted. She returns armed with a knife. The situation is eventually diffused.(5)
Thornton Road, Bradford. An incident of "violent disorder" and "wounding with intent" occurs.(6)
At 2.15 am. As an Asian and a African-Carribean man leave the Shimla restaurant with take-aways, a number of shots are fired from a black Vauxhall SRI. Both a handgun and a shotgun are used. Fortunately no-one is hurt. The man in the front passenger seat is described as "Asian male, 20-25 with curly shoulder length hair and a goatee beard". In the back passenger seat is "African-Caribbean male, aged around 30 with long dreadlocks and a long goatee beard." The car is abandoned in nearby Spencer Rd.(7)
An attempted kidnapping of an 18 year old Asian youth, and "wounding with intent" occurs in the Shearbridge area.(8)
At around 10 pm. police search a house in Waverley Rd, Great Horton, in connection with the attack on the Young Lion cafe. An air pistol and a replica gun are taken. The police are attacked with stones and bottles by a large group of Asian youths and 7 policeman are injured.(9)
At 8 pm. In Legrams Lane, Lidget Green, 3 Asians are assaulted by a larger group who arrive in 2 white Vauxhall Cavaliers, at least one of whom has a handgun. A 16 year old boy is abducted and apparently subject to a 5-hour beating.(10)
At 1 am. the 16 year old boy is thrown from a moving car in White Abbey road, Manningham, sustaining serious facial injuries.(11)
At 2.15 am. 2 Asians in a black BMW in Gaythorn Road, West Bowling, are shot at by a group of Asian men driving by in a red Nissan Bluebird. Incredibly they receive relatively minor injuries. The Nissan is later found abandoned. Those responsible are also believed to be behind the July 19th incident.(12)
At 12.30 am. a "disturbance" between around half a dozen men split into 2 gangs, one Asian and one white, leaves one of the white man in hospital with head injuries. The 3 white men (two 32 year olds and one 28 year old) are subsequently arrested and released on bail.At 2.15 am. 3 Asian men in a blue K-reg Mitsubishi Shogun pull up outside the former flat of the injured man and fire 3 shots at the bedroom window, fortunately missing the new occupant. The car is later found abandoned in Pool Court, near the city centre. Police believe this gang is responsible for a number of the previous shootings.
Police arrested 2 men at London's Heathrow Airport in connection with a number of the shootings listed above, but police say that this is not connected with the shooting of Dexter Coleman. They have made no arrests yet in connection with this.
See also:
March for Peace22 year old Safdar Khan of Tile St., Girlington appeared at Bradford Magistrates court to face charges of murder and violent disorder. He was accused of fatally wounding Dexter Coleman during the shooting incident on July 14. He was remanded in custody for a week.