Labour MP targeted by racist gang 30 years ago
A Labour MP has disclosed that she was attacked by a racist gang who unleashed dogs on her and her family.
Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan, the MP for Tooting in south London, recounted how she had to go to the hospital after an attack on her, her brother, and her father 30 years ago.
The MP, who is of Polish-Pakistani heritage, said that the memories of the incident kept her awake on Saturday night following the protests by Tommy Robinson supporters in London.
She told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “This kept me awake last night thinking about it. Thirty years ago, I was attacked in the park with my brother and my dad.
“I’m of mixed Polish-Pakistani heritage. We had dogs set on us, jackets ripped up, had to go to the A&E, where I now work, actually.
“I feel, looking at the images from yesterday and my phone blowing up, friends saying ‘I am scared’, what have we become?
“Thirty years later, we find ourselves in a position where there is hate speech, where people who are black, brown, gay, all sorts of differences that should be celebrated, are feeling frightened.”
The backbench MP said that what was needed in Britain in response was “leadership and unity”.
Dr. Allin-Khan spoke of the attack in the House of Commons in 2021 as part of a debate for Islamophobia Awareness Month.
She said: “I have my scars. From being attacked by a racist gang in the park with dogs, as me and my brother ran away, having our clothes ripped from us, scared; to the audible gasps of, ‘Why the hell would you choose to be a Muslim?’, my experiences are as real as they are painful.”
The Metropolitan Police have claimed that supporters of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, “kicked and punched” officers on Saturday.
More than 100,000 people descended on the capital for the “Unite the Kingdom” demonstration. As of 7:30 pm on Saturday, 25 people had been arrested for offences including affray, violent disorder, assaults, and criminal damage.
In a statement, Asst Commissioner Matt Twist said: “There is no doubt that many came to exercise their lawful right to protest, but there were many who came intent on violence. They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe.
“The violence faced was wholly unacceptable. Twenty-six officers were injured, including four seriously – among them [were] broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc, and a head injury.”
He added that the 25 arrests were “just the start” and that post-event investigations were under way to identify others “involved in the disorder”.
Deputy Editor
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
