# 2005 Birmingham riots

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2005 riots in Birmingham, England

2005 Birmingham riots Date 22–23 October 2005 Methods Rioting Casualties and losses 2 deaths

The **Birmingham riots** of 2005 occurred on two consecutive nights on Saturday 22 October and Sunday 23 October 2005 in the [Lozells](/source/Lozells) and [Handsworth](/source/Handsworth%2C_West_Midlands) area of [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), [England](/source/England). The riots were derived from [ethnic tensions](/source/Ethnic_violence) between the [Caribbean](/source/British_African-Caribbean_people) and [British Pakistani](/source/British_Pakistani) communities, with the spark for the riot being an alleged [gang rape](/source/Gang_rape) of a teenage black girl by a group of [British Pakistani](/source/British_Pakistani) men. The rape allegation has never been substantiated. No evidence has been found to support the rumour nor has any victim come forward (further rumours asserted that this was because the victim was present in Britain unlawfully and feared deportation). The clashes involved groups of Caribbean and British Pakistani men committing serious acts of violence against various targets from both communities. The riots were connected to the deaths of two men, 23-year-old Isaiah Young-Sam and 18-year-old Aaron James.

## Background

The majority of the [Asian](/source/Asian_people) population in the Lozells area are of [Pakistani](/source/British_Pakistanis) origin. The black population is predominantly of [Caribbean](/source/British_African-Caribbean_people) origin. The animosity that preceded the rioting appears to have been largely based on local economic rivalry combined with possible agitation from opposing criminal gangs.[1]

During a 2004 documentary titled *Who You Callin' a Nigger?* writer and broadcaster [Darcus Howe](/source/Darcus_Howe) picked up and commented upon a backdrop of mutual ethnic minority [racism](/source/Racism) both in the [West Midlands](/source/West_Midlands_(county)) and the rest of [Britain](/source/Great_Britain). His documentary did not focus solely on the differences between the Caribbean and [British Asian](/source/British_Asian) community but also included tensions between the [Caribbean community](/source/British_Caribbean_community) and recent [African immigrants](/source/African_migration_to_the_United_Kingdom) as well as inter-Asian [racism](/source/Racism). The problems specific to the Lozells area appear to be centered on the prevalence of Asian-owned businesses, the "unfair treatment" and "derogatory attitudes" of each community to the other.

## The alleged rape

There has never been agreement on the date the alleged rape occurred and the exact circumstances remain unclear: descriptions of the event change dependent on source. The earliest news items concerning the issue seem to begin with the [BBC](/source/BBC) reporting a "Stop traffic" protest on 18 October 2005.[2]

The rumours involved a 14-year-old girl of [Jamaican](/source/Jamaica) heritage attempting to shoplift from a branch of "Beauty Queen Cosmetics". The girl was then raped by a group of eight to nineteen Pakistani origin men. Afraid of being deported due to her [illegal immigrant](/source/Illegal_immigrant) status the girl supposedly refused to provide a statement to the police. The police appealed for any evidence of the event occurring and stated at the very least her immigrant status would not be an issue until after the allegations had been dealt with. Despite the appeal, forensic searches and questioning of several individuals, the allegations have never been substantiated and no witnesses have come forward, nor was the girl ever identified.

## Rumours and riot

Local [pirate radio](/source/Pirate_radio) stations, most notably [Hot 92](/source/Hot_92_(pirate_radio_station)) along with one of its DJs 'Warren G' discussed the details of the alleged rape and a picket was set up outside the premises of the shop in question. There were also calls for boycotts of other British Asian businesses. Ajaib Hussein, 33, the shop owner denied the event ever occurred and blamed business rivals for starting the rumour. A public meeting was held on Saturday 22 October at the New Testament Church of God. At around 17:45 the meeting ended and violence erupted outside. Gangs of men fought running battles and at 19:15 Isaiah Young-Sam, who later died, was stabbed. Young-Sam had not been present at the meeting, or been involved in the running battles between gangs of youths, he had been at a cinema in the city centre with friends before being forced off his bus home due to it being diverted because of the public disorder. As he and his friends made their way on foot down a side street they were confronted by a group of Asian Youths who chased them down and stabbed Isaiah. As the night progressed the police recorded 80 offences occurring. Rioting also occurred to a lesser extent during the night of 23 October. Between 30 and 50 individuals were thought to be involved in the most serious incidents.[3]

Three men were convicted, but after a subsequent retrial acquitted of the murder of Isaiah Young-Sam.[4][5] A man pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Aaron James.[6] In July 2007 six people were convicted of various offences related to the riots; four men were subsequently jailed in November 2007.[7][8][9] In May 2008 four men were convicted for a being part of a mob that confronted and threatened a fire crew with firearms and machetes.[10]

In the aftermath of the riots a solidarity march for unity was conducted by Caribbean, white and British Asian women and children.[11] On 5 November 2005 graves in the Muslim part of a local cemetery were desecrated. Vandals who pushed over and destroyed several grave stones left behind leaflets insulting Muslims. The leaflets were signed by a group calling itself "Black Nation". There is no previous history of any such organisation and it is not known whether it does in fact exist.[12] Dr John Sentamu, the first African archbishop in the Church of England, strongly condemned the desecrations.[13]

## Media coverage

On 21 February 2006 the [Press Complaints Commission](/source/Press_Complaints_Commission) censured [*The Voice*](/source/The_Voice_(British_newspaper)), the leading black newspaper in Britain, for reporting the alleged rape in terms that suggested it was unchallenged fact (the newspaper had headlined "Gang of 19 rape teen").[14] The rumours were picked up by two Caribbean websites Blacknet and Supertrax which each allowed their chatrooms to post reactions from around the country. Supertrax reported that Lozells was swarming with "Paki gangs" with "sumtin to prove"; whilst Blacknet, a website promoted by [The British Council](/source/The_British_Council), printed various contributions one of which was: "I hope Asian women are getting their throats cut as we speak", followed by a response: "Narrow it down to Pakistani women and I'll agree with you". After the riot, Blacknet apologised and removed what it called "absolutely disgusting" material posted on its site.[15][16]

The riots were the subject of a retrospective [BBC Radio 4](/source/BBC_Radio_4) podcast, made in 2023.[17]

## See also

- [1981 Handsworth riots](/source/1981_Handsworth_riots)

- [1985 Handsworth riots](/source/1985_Handsworth_riots)

- [1991 Handsworth riots](/source/1991_Handsworth_riots)

- [Urban riots](/source/Urban_riots)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BBC#1_1-0)** ["BBC on the 2005 Birmingham race riots"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4373040.stm). *BBC News*. 25 October 2005. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20051029162206/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4373040.stm) from the original on 29 October 2005. Retrieved 26 December 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["'Assault' protest stops traffic"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4354554.stm), *BBC*, 18 October 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hugh Muir, Riazat Butt, ["A rumour, outrage and then a riot. How tension in a Birmingham suburb erupted"](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/oct/24/race.ukcrime) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240729035101/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/oct/24/race.ukcrime) 29 July 2024 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*, 24 October 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Three guilty of riot night murder"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4992966.stm), "BBC", 22 May 2006, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Three not guilty over Birmingham riot death"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8520369.stm), "BBC", 17 February 2010, retrieved 17 February 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Man jailed for killing his friend"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4932116.stm), "BBC", 21 April 2006, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Six guilty over city race riots"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/6903078.stm), "BBC", 17 July 2007, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Ross McCarthy, ["Rioters convicted for Lozells violence"](http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=&method=full&objectid=19472252&siteid=50002-name_page.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080520073221/http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline%3D%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D19472252%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html) 20 May 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *Birmingham Mail*, 18 July 2007, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ross McCarthy (23 November 2007). ["Four jailed for their parts in the Lozells riots"](http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline%3Dfour-jailed-for-their-parts-in-the-lozells-riots%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D20150761%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html). *Birmingham Mail*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110511000013/http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline%3Dfour-jailed-for-their-parts-in-the-lozells-riots%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D20150761%26siteid%3D50002-name_page.html) from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Lozells rioter fled to London"](http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/05/16/lozells-rioter-fled-to-london-97319-20920055/), "Birminghammail.net", 16 May 2008, retrieved 30 August 2009. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120328141658/http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/05/16/lozells-rioter-fled-to-london-97319-20920055/) 2009-09-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Women and children hold community vigil"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/10/26/one_community_vigil_feature.shtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201126091230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2005/10/26/one_community_vigil_feature.shtml) 26 November 2020 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), "BBC", 26 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Muslim graves destroyed in city"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4406760.stm), "BBC", 4 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Grave damage angers former bishop"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4409886.stm), "BBC", 5 November 2005, retrieved 16 March 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Brook, Stephen, ["Voice censured for Birmingham 'rape' reporting"](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/21/race.crime), *The Guardian*, 21 February 2006, retrieved 18 October 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Vulliamy, Ed, ["Rumours of a riot"](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/nov/29/race.world) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240729035101/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/nov/29/race.world) 29 July 2024 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *The Guardian*, 29 November 2005, retrieved 18 October 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Syal, Rajeev, ["Rape triggers a night of violence — but did it really happen?"](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article582092.ece) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081007171758/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article582092.ece) 7 October 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*, 24 October 2005, retrieved 18 October 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Bassey, Amardeep (17 April 2023). ["The Lozells riots: could they happen again in Britain's diverse communities?"](https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-lozells-riots-could-they-happen-again-in-britains-diverse-communities/). *Religion Media Centre*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230417141056/https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/the-lozells-riots-could-they-happen-again-in-britains-diverse-communities/) from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.

## External links

- [BBC News article: "Fear and rumours grip Birmingham"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4373040.stm)

- [BBC News: "'80 crimes' in night of violence"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/4369814.stm)

- [*The Observer* (UK) newspaper: "The new colour of British racism"](https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/oct/30/race.world)

- [Scotland on Sunday report](http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=2133762005)

- [*The Independent* (UK): "One dead, ten injured in 'rape' riot"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051025133109/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article321662.ece)

- ["Photographs of the 1985 Handsworth riots"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190820042056/http://digitalhandsworth.org.uk/)

- [Darcus Howe bids farewell to Rosa Parks](http://www.newstatesman.com/200510310010)

- [Politics of the Ghetto (Nick Cohen)](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/30/race.politicalcolumnists)

v t e Riots in England 12th–17th centuries 1189–1190 Massacres of the Jews The revolt of 1196 1355 St Scholastica Day riot 1381 Peasants' Revolt Treason Act 1381 1517 Evil May Day 1668 Bawdy House riots 18th century 1710 Sacheverell riots 1714 Coronation riots 1715 England riots Riot Act 1766 food riots 1766 Nottingham cheese riot 1768 Massacre of St George's Fields 1769 Spitalfield riots 1780 Gordon riots 1791 Priestley riots 1793 Bristol Bridge riot 1795 Revolt of the housewives 19th century 1809 Old Price riots 1816 Spa Fields riots 1816 Ely and Littleport riots 1819 Peterloo Massacre 1821 Cinderloo Uprising 1830 Swing riots Captain Swing 1831 reform riots 1831 Bristol riots 1832 Days of May 1838 Battle of Bossenden Wood 1842 Pottery Riots 1865 Leeds dripping riot 1866 Hyde Park demonstration 1887 Bloody Sunday 1896 Newlyn riots 20th century 1900s–1940s 1907 Brown Dog riots 1919 Epsom riot 1919 Battle of Bow Street 1919 Luton Peace Day riots 1932 Old Market riot (Bristol) 1932 National Hunger March 1936 Battle of Cable Street 1943 Battle of Bamber Bridge 1944 Park Street riot 1945 Aldershot riot 1950s–1970s 1958 Notting Hill race riots 1968 student riots 1970 Garden House riot 1974 Red Lion Square disorders 1975 Chapeltown riot 1977 Battle of Lewisham 1979 Death of Blair Peach 1980s 1980 St Pauls riot 1981 England riots 1981 Brixton riot 1981 Chapeltown riots 1981 Toxteth riots 1981 Moss Side riot 1981 Handsworth riots 1985 Handsworth riots 1985 Brixton riot 1985 Broadwater Farm riot Murder of Keith Blakelock 1987 Chapeltown riot 1989 Dewsbury riot 1990s 1990 Poll Tax riots 1990 Strangeways Prison riot 1991 Meadow Well riots 1991 Handsworth riots 1992 Hartcliffe riot (Bristol) 1993 Welling riots 1994 Criminal Justice Bill riot 1995 Manningham riot 1995 Marsh Farm riot 1995 Brixton riot 1996 Trafalgar Square riots 1999 Carnival Against Capital riot 21st century 2000s 2001 Bradford riots 2001 Oldham riots 2001 Harehills riot 2005 Birmingham riots 2009 G20 London summit protests Death of Ian Tomlinson 2009 Upton Park riot 2010s 2010 UK student protests 2011 Stokes Croft riot (Bristol) 2011 UK anti-austerity protests 2011 London anti-cuts protest 2011 England riots Killing of Mark Duggan House of Reeves fire Timeline 2020s George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom Actions against memorials in the United Kingdom during the George Floyd protests 2022 Leicester unrest 2024 Harehills riot 2024 United Kingdom riots Reports 1981 Scarman report Related Riots in Leeds Riots in London Riot Act Public Order Act 1986 Territorial Support Group

v t e Murders in the United Kingdom in the 2000s 2000 Margaret Fleming (December 1999/January 2000) Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine (19 February) Victoria Climbié (25 February) Zahid Mubarek (21 March) Frank McPhee (10 May) Sarah Payne (July) Lowe family (5 August) Jackie Coulter (21 August) Carnkie murders (30 August) Tom Cressman (17 September) Jodie Hyde, Rosemary Corcoran and Carol Jordan (November) Leanne Tiernan (26 November) Damilola Taylor (27 November) 2001 Hannah Williams (21 April) Danielle Jones (18 June) Jason Martin-Smith (22 August) Bluestone family (28 August) Adam (21 September) Ross Parker (21 September) Martin O'Hagan (28 September) Joan Albert (16 December) 2002 Matthew Burns (21 February) Exmoor Body mystery (13 March) Milly Dowler (March) Tina Baker (July) Jong-Ok Shin (12 July) Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman (c. 4 August) Heshu Yones (12 October) 2003 Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare (2 January) Stephen Oake (14 January) Chohan family (15 February) Hannah Foster (14 March) Jane Longhurst (14 March) Gareth O'Connor (May) Jodi Jones (30 June) Shafilea Ahmed (11 September) Toni-Ann and Bertram Byfield (14 September) Perch Garage murders (6 November) 2004 Kriss Donald (15 March) House of Blood murders (17 October) John Monckton (29 November) 2005 Robert McCartney (30 January) Emma Caldwell (April) Mi Gao Huang Chen (23 April) Samaira Nazir (23 April) Mary-Ann Leneghan (7 May) Jenny Nicholl (30 June) 7 July 2005 London bombings (7 July) Killing of Jean Charles de Menezes (22 July) Anthony Walker (30 July) Sally Anne Bowman (25 September) Jody Dobrowski (15 October) 2005 Birmingham riots (22–23 October) Sharon Beshenivsky (18 November) 2006 Tom ap Rhys Pryce (12 January) Banaz Mahmod (24 January) Christopher Alaneme (21 April) Nisha Patel-Nasri (11 May) Kiyan Prince (18 May) Ipswich serial murders (October–December) 2007 Jason Spencer (6 March) Jonathan Henry (11 June) Davina and Jasmine Kumari-Baker (13 June) Garry Newlove (12 August) Rhys Jones (22 August) Sophie Lancaster (24 August) 2008 Martine Vik Magnussen (14 March) Jimmy Mizen (10 May) Rob Knox (24 May) Michael Kahan (1 June) Ben Kinsella (29 June) New Cross double murder (29 June) Michael Causer (2 August) Francesca Bimpson (2 December) Andrew Cunningham (10 December) 2009 Graham McKenna (10 January) Michael Gilbert (21/22 January) Lakhvinder Cheema (27 January) Massereene Barracks shooting (7 March) Jeffrey Howe (8 March) Stephen Carroll (9 March) Rosalyn Hunt and Desmond Thorpe (August) Ashleigh Hall (25 October) 1990s 2010s

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [2005 Birmingham riots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Birmingham_riots) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Birmingham_riots?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.