2006 Windsor ethnic violence

In October 2006 Windsor was the scene of fierce ethnic violence between Muslim and non-Muslim residents, apparently started by a Muslim's attempts to open a new mosque in the area. During the course of the violence a Muslim business was fire bombed 1, property to be rented by British officers returning from Afghanistan was attacked, and groups of young Muslims and non-Muslims fought running battles in the streets. The violence came amid controversy over Jack Straw's headscarf comments and a Muslim police officer refusing to guard the Israeli embassy. The violence was so intense that some local residents referred to it as "all out war" and Conservative MP Philip Davies declared that:

“If there’s anybody who should [...] off it’s the Muslims who are doing this kind of thing. Police should pull out the stops to track down these vile thugs.”2

There were reports that Muslim youths where coming down from Slough, to join in the fighting.3