Diwali Disturbance: Third Arrest

Detectives investigating a disturbance at a Diwali celebration of Asian elders in Leamington on November 12 have arrested a 34 year old Leamington man on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

He was arrested on Thursday morning November 24.

He is being questioned today at Leamington police station.

The officer leading the enquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Adrian Pearson, said: This is the third arrest made to date, and I believe there will be further arrests.

We are making good progress in obtaining copies of the video recordings made during the incident, when large number of Asian elders were attacked and subjected to the degrading act of having their turbans removed.

Video evidence is going to be key in bringing to justice those responsible for the attack which has shocked the whole community in Leamington.

DCI Pearson added: I believe that there are people who came to the social gathering that night believing they were to take part in a peaceful protest and unwittingly found themselves witnesses to the violence which followed.

From the outset, I have said that of that group of 55 - 70 people involved in that protest, only a very small number committed criminal acts.

I am appealing directly to anyone who went there to protest peacefully to come forward and to talk to the investigation team. Only those who committed an assault have anything to fear. You will be treated as a witness if you can come forward and tell us what you saw.

Witnesses can contact the incident room through the anonymous CRIMESTOPPERS freephone line on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, callers can call the Operation Care incident room on 01926 415000.