British Conservative MP Bob Blackman has said that people who disrupted Holi celebrations in north-west London earlier this month are “still at large”, even as he marked the latest incidents of violence targeting Hindu and Sikh communities in nearby areas.In a post on X, Blackman said that despite raising the March 3 Harrow incident in the UK Parliament, tensions on the ground have not subsided.
Pointing to recent attacks on businesses and individuals in Wembley, he said, “Since I raised this in Parliament, the violence has not stopped… The perpetrators of the original Holi attack remain at large.”The MP had earlier told Parliament that a group of around 20 individuals disrupted Holi celebrations, adding that only one arrest has been made so far, and demanded accountability from the Metropolitan Police.
What happened in Harrow Holi event?
The incident to which Blackman referred took place on 3 March during a bonfire celebration in the Harrow Civic Center car park, which was attended by around 1,000 people.According to the organisers, the event turned tense when a small group of youths allegedly interfered in the proceedings by pulling the sound system’s wires and damaging the equipment. They reportedly returned shortly afterwards with a larger group of 15–20 individuals, some of whom had faces covered, and caused further disruption by throwing objects and clashing with security before fleeing.Police were called to the scene and arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of affray.
The matter was raised in the British Parliament
First raising the matter in the House of Commons, Blackman described the attackers as “thugs” who had come from a nearby mosque and attempted to disrupt a peaceful religious celebration.He urged the UK government to intervene and reassure communities, warning that rising global tensions were beginning to be reflected locally.“As politicians, it is our responsibility to calm things down,” he said, calling for measures to ensure that people can celebrate festivals “in peace and harmony”.Responding to the concern, UK government minister Alan Campbell condemned religious hatred, but refrained from commenting directly on the matter, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Latest violence in Wembley
In his latest comments, Blackman also referred to a series of alleged attacks in Wembley, where Hindu and Sikh-owned businesses have reportedly been targeted in recent days.Local accounts described a number of incidents, including vandalism to restaurants on Ealing Road, attacks on individuals and stabbings. In one such incident, a group allegedly stormed a restaurant, damaged property and attacked people present there. In another, shopkeepers said masked youths vandalized shops and fled before police arrived.Community members have expressed concerns that the same group behind the Harrow disruption may be linked to these incidents, however, this is unconfirmed.