Three jailed for murdering man during British riot

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) Three men were jailed for life today for murdering a 23-year-old black man during a riot in Birmingham last year that was sparked off by talk of an alleged sex attack on a young girl.

Isaiah Young-Sam, a computer analyst who worked for Birmingham City Council, was stabbed to death in a racist attack as he walked home with his younger brother and two friends in October.

The men, who had been trying to avoid rioting which had broken out in the Lozells area of Britain's second city last October, were attacked after three cars carrying a group of men pulled up and confronted them.

Afzal Ashraf Khan, Azhil Rashid Khan and Waqar Ahmed were jailed for life and told they will serve at least 25 years after being found guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Ward said it was a ''wicked gang attack''.

''Those four young men did everything they could to avoid trouble that night but they were eventually targeted simply because of the colour of their skin,'' he said.

''On that day, the Lozells community lost an exceptional and gifted young man who was chased down and killed in what can only be described as a racist attack by a pack of thugs.'' Ward said up to a dozen people had been involved in the attack and the investigation would continue until the others involved were brought to justice.

The incident came during rioting which erupted following a public meeting to address community concerns over an alleged sex attack on a West Indian girl by an Asian man.

A peaceful demonstration initially passed off without incident but later in the evening gangs of youths wielding baseball bats ran amok.

More than 30 people were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the thigh with a ball-bearing gun.

Police have said no victim has come forward regarding the sex attack allegation.

''My parents, my brother and myself will never come to terms with the vicious attack and murder of Isaiah and cannot understand how people could take the life of such an innocent young man,'' said the victim's sister, Kavina Young-Sam, 22.

REUTERS PG BST2003