Families terrified to sleep after Rotherham riots, says former England cricketer Azeem Rafiq

Families terrified to sleep after Rotherham riots, says ex England cricketer Azeem RafigSource: Sky News

Transcript

00:00To you I understand you have family in the areas where the rioters are out on

00:06the streets tonight. Good evening Saima, yes you know I think family are affected

00:11they are in in the Rotherham area and you know we're not so far away either so

00:15it's really worrying times for all of us concerned. What are they telling you

00:21about what they're seeing and how they're feeling about it? Yeah I think

00:25you know ever since Monday the horrific attack situation unfolding in Southport

00:31and then people hijacking that situation it's been worrying time you know on the

00:36family groups everyone sort of checking in on each other staying in

00:40communication with each other and keeping each other safe but you know

00:43it's petrifying going to sleep at night in your own home and not feeling safe is

00:48not not something that you should be thinking about but that's the situation

00:52for most people right now. And you said that people are sharing information via

00:58WhatsApp groups we've heard from several people saying that what what are they

01:03doing are they are they able to leave their homes are they able to go out and

01:08get on with their daily life? No I don't think so I don't think anyone has been

01:13able to to be honest I think hearing about stories from all over the country

01:17whether it be Middlesbrough you know Muslim women having their hijab pulled

01:22off you can see people of color all over being attacked so I think everyone's

01:28encouraging each other to if there is some necessity to go out for then you

01:33are not on your own but you know if you can avoid it then then do that and you

01:38know that's the same for my family and you know we're speaking as I say I'm

01:41trying to monitor you know where these riots are to try and keep yourself out

01:46of harm's way but if you're caught up in the area which which is impacted then

01:50it's difficult to do that.