Race abuse prompts warning by Amnesty

THE xenophobic rhetoric of the referendum campaign has left some people feeling “licensed to express racist views”, human rights group Amnesty International has said.

The warning came amid a spate of disturbing incidents involving reports of verbal abuse, racist graffiti and slogans and acts of intimidation and hate against ethnic minorities.

Kate Allen, Amnesty’s UK director said the group had launched an emergency campaign to combat racism and xenophobia and added: “People across the UK have suddenly found themselves in a country where they’re unsure of their future, their family’s future and the security of their jobs and homes.

“They need to be urgently reassured that they can feel safe, protected and welcome here.”

In Manchester three people were arrested after footage appeared of a mixed race man allegedly being abused on a tram in the city.

The victim appeared to have beer thrown at him during a row with three other passengers and was allegedly told by one of the men to: “Get back to Africa.” Meanwhile police in Hampshire launched an investigation after a man repeatedly used the racist term P--- during an interview with an Asian BBC reporter.

West Midlands Police were called in after a member of staff in a halal butchers in Walsall was injured when a petrol bomb was thrown inside.