Order restored after UK race riots

Rioters attacked police with bricks, hammers and petrol bombs

BRADFORD,England (CNN) -- Police in the English town of Bradford say they have restored order following a night of racial violence.

At least 80 police officers and six civilians, two of them stabbing victims, were wounded in the clashes, and at least 28 arrests were made.

Hundreds of Asian youths clashed with police in Bradford following fights between Asian and white youths.

Rioters hijacked cars and drove them into police lines. Officers said they had come close to being overwhelmed by the violence at one point.

AUDIO CNN's Diana Muriel: "Serious disorder" 295KB / 28 secs AIFF or WAV sound

CNN's Diana Muriel said tension has been high since the racist National Front group announced plans for a rally, which eventually was banned by authorities.

She said a planned Pakistani cultural festival was first cancelled. Then officials turned down rally proposals from the National Front, an extreme right-wing and anti-immigration organisation, and an anti-Neo Nazi group.

Bradford is the fourth city in northern England in recent weeks to be hit by race riots after Oldham, Leeds and Burnley.

Overnight, two car dealerships were looted and set ablaze and youths attacked pubs, shops and commercial premises.

Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Hyde: "Order is now being restored to the streets of Bradford.

"Police officers have come under attack from groups of youths with bricks, baseball bats, hammers and petrol bombs.

"More than 80 officers have been injured, two police horses have been injured, one of them has been stabbed."

Violence in Bradford began on Saturday after members of the National Front arrived for the banned rally. They were outnumbered by anti-racist groups and the event never took place.

Trouble then spread to the district of Manningham on the outskirts of the city where burning barricades were set up.

Hundreds of Asian and white youths clashed in Bradford

Fighting broke out between Asian youths, whites and police. Twelve whites and 16 Asians where arrested.

Television stations showed a white man being chased by young Asian men, surrounded, beaten then stabbed.

Two white men received knife injuries. Six people were admitted to hospital with injuries ranging from a broken ankle to stabbing.

Around five percent of Britain's 57 million population are from ethnic minorities. Some 15 percent of Bradford's 482,000 residents are of Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin.

Many of them are the sons and daughters of immigrants who came to work in textile mills that have long since closed.

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, last night went on to the streets of Manningham and appealed for calm.

"We all feared that Bradford would join the list of towns and cities where trouble flared and sadly now it has.

"It is extremely sad for Bradford and will set back all the good work that has been carried out over the years."