Pubs at centre of Birmingham race riots

Staff and customers at pubs in the Lozells area of Birmingham were left terrified after coming under attack in last weekend's riots.

Four pubs - the Union Inn, the Uplands, the Observatory and the Stork - were at the centre of the violence that erupted between black and Asian youths.

At the Uplands the assistant manager, who wished to remain anonymous, was stabbed in the back when a group of rioters burst into the pub. "It was very frightening," he said.

"The knife went in about half an inch, but I didn't have to go to hospital. I've never experienced anything like that in my life."

He said a number of other customers had been injured, including one man who was shot in the leg.

The pub's till and cars from the car park were also stolen in the incident.

During the violence on Saturday October 22, a 23-year-old man, Isiah Young-Sam, was stabbed to death and 35 people were taken to hospital.

In a further stand-off on Sunday an 18-year-old man was shot and later died in hospital.

The riots are believed to have broken out after residents had attended a public meeting about an alleged attack on a 14-year-old girl.

At the Union Inn, licensee India Murray came to the rescue of three of her regulars by putting them up for the night following the riots.

Several customers were left stranded after the violence erupted. There were no taxis available after the rioting, which meant some people were left unable to get home safely, Ms Murray added.

Earlier the pub had all its windows smashed by bricks thrown by rioters.

"All the staff inside were terrified," said Ms Murray.

"There was a party going on in the pub at the time, but most people went straight home after the bricks came through the windows."

Ms Murray estimates it will cost £12,000 to replace the windows.

At the Observatory on Barker Street, 30 windows were smashed on Sunday when the pub was pelted with bricks by Asian youths, according to a member of staff.

Half a mile away, rioters also targeted the Stork, which had its windows smashed.