SIR:I refer to the article which appeared recently in Newsnet, regarding a 'sickening attack'.

My son, John, who attends Bradford University, was also attacked for absolutely no reason in Bradford. He was on his way back to his house, when a car-load of Asian youths jumped out. My son was hit with metal bats repeatedly, and ended up in hospital with a suspected fractured skull. Fortunately, apart from bruising, stitches etc, he was all right.

Your reporter emphasised the word 'racism' which I think was wrong - I think the word 'violence' should have been emphasised.

When my son was released from hospital the following day, he went to make a formal statement at the police station and was refused this 'right' as he was told they did not want to incur racial tension. Following this, I made a formal complaint to the Chief Superintendent, and we received an apology and my son was allowed to make a statement.

I am not racist in the slightest. I tell my children there is good and bad in all people, no matter what colour or creed. In fact, an innocent bystander who rang the ambulance and police at the time of the attack was a girl who attended the nearby College, an Asian girl who we are eternally grateful to.

If I was not living in Bolton and had read that article, I would have read that we are all for violence and racism which, fortunately, we are most definitely not. Until we rule out this violence, we will never be able to deal with any other problems.

Mrs S D T O'Brien, Egerton

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