Racist youths hurl beer bottles at dad
A DELIVERY driver has told how he was pelted with beer bottles by a gang of 15 yobs in a racist attack.
Zahid Zanan was targeted by the youths as he returned to the Chesterton takeaway where he works.
They threw beer bottles as Mr Zanan ran from his car into the Top Chef takeaway, in Birch House Road.
The 34-year-old father-of-five said: "I have never been the victim of a racial attack before. I think they must have been drinking.
"They were shouting 'Paki' at me and said if I got out of the car they would hit me."
Now Mr Zanan, who escaped unscathed from the ordeal before calling police, says he feels afraid to leave his Smallthorne home.
He said: "I don't know why I was targeted, all I wanted to do was go out and earn some money to support my family.
"I don't want to use the car I was in again in case they see me. It has beer stains and boot marks all over it, with dents where they threw the bottles.
"It's left me feeling like a prisoner in my own home, I don't feel safe any more."
Mr Zanan has told police he was targeted by a group of lads in their late teens and early 20s between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Friday.
His partner, Elizabeth Smith, aged 23, says she has felt more intimidated since the English Defence League's (EDL) protest in Hanley in January.
Ms Smith, who has two children with Mr Zanan, said: "The incident involving Zahid has left me feeling really angry.
"I think it's a knock-on effect from the EDL demonstrations last month. It seems people now think it's acceptable to behave however they want.
"We are a mixed-race couple who have been together eight years and haven't experienced many problems."
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "Police were called to the incident on Friday evening where a man was arrested.
"However, due to insufficient evidence he was later released without charge."
6 Comments
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by Chris, Manchester
Thursday, March 04 2010, 2:21PM
“correction on date - the national mobilisation to oppose the EDL in Bolton is on 20th March...thank you”
by Chris, Manchester
Thursday, March 04 2010, 2:13PM
“A Stoke mosque was daubed with racist graffiti just before the EDL demonstration. And afterwords the EDL rampaged through Asian areas of Stoke attacking people and damaging property and cars. People who objected were called "race traitors". They did the same in Luton.
And now we see another Asian person attacked in Stoke.
The EDL plans to march in Bolton on 29th March. Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is planning a peaceful counter-protest outside Bolton Town Hall on the same day. Anti-racists from all over the country will be there. We invite anti-racists from Stoke to join us in a celebration of Bolton's cultural diversity. There will be music and poetry organised by the UAF's sister organisation Love Music Hater Racism. See manchesteruaf.org for details.”
by paul, melbourne
Thursday, March 04 2010, 1:45AM
“Mel, Bucknall
You are an idiot, she didn't slander anyone. She stated that she thought it was a knock on effect from the demonstrations which is a fair assumption, it is another example of the ignorant racist element of Stoke- on-Trent rearing it's ugly head. Chanting Paki because of the colour of his skin shows the ignorance of these cowards, he could have been Indian, Sri Lankan or any number of nationalities”
by anon, stoke
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 8:33PM
“So he met Ms smith when she was 15 and he was 26 and they now have have 5 kids beween them !!!!! Outstanding.”
by anon, Newcastle under lyme
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 8:26PM
“This is not the first time there has been racist attacks in Ches.”