Malaysian student Ashraf Rossli, who was hurt during the riots, says he is determined to continue living there and has no ill-feelings towards the people
Malaysian student Ashraf Rossli, who was hurt during the riots, says he is determined to continue living there and has no ill-feelings towards the people
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| Ashraf Rossli said he felt bad for those who attacked him and harboured no ill-feelings. Meanwhile, other members of the community pay respects to those who were injured in the riots. |
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Ashraf Rossli (20), who was rushed to hospital with a broken jaw after being attacked during London's riots less than a month after arriving in Britain, also thanked the public for their support.
Rossli spoke to reporters as a man in his 20s was being questioned by Scotland Yard on suspicion of robbery.
The attack prompted widespread anger after police said hooded youths initially pretended to help him before going through his rucksack, stealing his mobile phone and wallet in Barking, east London on Monday night.
He was discharged from hospital yesterday and said he harboured no grudges.
He said, "My family are worried about me and my mother would like me to go home. But I am determined to stay.
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Britain is great. Before I came here I was very eager and I haven't got any ill-feelings about what happened."
He thanked those who contributed to a fund to support him, saying, "It is very nice of you all to help me."
Cyclist Rossli, from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, last night described how he was attacked, reliving his ordeal from his hospital bed.
"They threatened to stab me, they told me they had knives," he says in the footage, available on YouTube.
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"Some of them were quite young, maybe still in primary school. They had their hoods on and demanded my bicycle."
Police presence
Meanwhile, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, announced that the high numbers of police on the streets will be maintained until further notice.
Not the first time
Experts state this is a deja vu for England which has been paralysed by riots as history seems to be repeating itself with terrifying accuracy.
St. Pauls Riot
In April of 1980, the Black and White Caf ufffd, a famous drug den in Bristol, was raided by officers. High unemployment, poor living conditions proved a deadly combination as over a hundred youth battled with officers. In total 25 people were hospitalised, including 19 officers, and 130 were arrested. St. Pauls is seen as a turning point.
The Oldham Riots
On May 26, 2001, a small quarrel between young White and Asian men outside of chip shop spurred the deadliest of riots. A series of small attacks followed, many at the hands of White youth, and in the matter of hours, an army of 500 Asian men were confronted by riot police, dogs and helicopters in the streets of Oldham.
Upwards of 300 people were injured, and hundreds arrested.
'No remorse'
Despite the crackdown by British PM David Cameron, some of the looters seem to be unfazed. In an interview, a group of young men, who claim they were involved in the rioting, said they felt no remorse for their actions. On the contrary, they point the finger at the government for ignoring the plight of young people.
Blaze hero dies
Richard Mannington Bowes (68), who confronted rioters in London earlier this week has died of his injuries, taking the death toll to five. Bowes was left in a coma when he was set upon by a mob in Ealing in west London late Monday. He was attacked as he was trying to stamp out a fire.
Number Game
1,500
Number of arrests in the riots, out of which 600 have been charged
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