A LEADING figure for pressure group Amnesty International told a court that Asians in Burnley were 'a community under siege' during last summer's riots.

Asad Rehman, born and brought up in the town, now works for the human rights charity in East London.

He told Preston Crown Court that the fear of racial attack at the time of the disorder was some of the worst he had ever experienced.

Mr Rehman has travelled the world with Amnesty International as part of a team looking at racial conflict including Neo-Nazi attacks in Germany and the Stephen Lawrence murder.

He said that there had always been an underlying racial tension in Burnley -- Mr Rehman stopped going to Turf Moor to support Burnley because he suffered so much racial abuse -- but that nothing compared to the three days in June last year.

Mr Rehman, who had driven to Burnley to see his parents after attending a conference in Oldham to discuss the riots there the previous month, told the jury he had met up with some Asian friends in the Abel Street area of Daneshouse.

He was one of a number who had gone to Colne Road and confronted a gang of white youths after rumours circulated that the Ghosia Mosque was under attack.

Mr Rehman said: "There was a real fear that the community would be under attack, especially in the context of what had happened in Oldham.

"This felt like an organised attack. Most racial incidents are spontaneous but this was completely different Our community was under siege."

He added: "There was a high risk of attack as there were large gangs running around and very little police presence to stop incidents taking place."

Mr Rehman, who was giving evidence in the trial of five Asians accused of violent disorder during the riots, also denied suggestions that Asians were looking for a fight with the whites.

He said that they were simply out to defend their homes and families and had the support of the elders of their community in that aim.

Mohammed Bashir, 22, of Forest Street, Burnley; Mohammed Nawaz, 35, of Lord Street, Brierfield; Asif Khan, 24, of Francis Street, Burnley, Tariq Saddique, 28, of Azalea Court, Blackburn, and a 17-year-old from Burnley who cannot be named for legal reasons all deny violent disorder.

(Proceeding)