Police calm fear of weekend violence

A POLICE chief today moved to calm fears that the inner city suburbs where the West Yorkshire suicide bombers lived may be targeted by troublemakers over the weekend.
Superintendent Peter Nicholson said he was aware of 'rumours' circulating that groups of thugs, possibly including football hooligans, might try to march into the Beeston and Holbeck communities in Leeds on Sunday. At midday on Sunday Leeds United will begin the new football season with a game against Millwall FC at Elland Road.
The south London club has declined to take up its away tickets for the clash, so officially there will be no Millwall fans at the game. But police intelligence officers are aware of 'chatter' on hooligan websites involving yobs from both clubs, traditionally arch rivals, which has mentioned the Beeston and Holbeck areas.
Those communities were rocked at the beginning of July when anti-terror officers raided the homes of West Yorkshire suicide bombers Hussain Habib, 18, in Holbeck, and Shehzad Tanweer, 22, in Beeston. Just days after the raids, police made eight arrests after a gang of about 60 men, believed to have links with local football hooliganism, gathered at the Broadway Pub in Dewsbury Road, Leeds. Officers believed they were intent on causing disorder nearby. ...more