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Asylum-seekers are being
diverted from a city where an Iraqi Kurd was killed,
following pleas from the police and anti-racist
groups.
Family and friends of Kalan Karim, 29, who died
after being attacked outside a pub in Swansea last
month, have warned that racial hatred was worsening
in the city.
They claimed that every one of the city's estimated
180 Iraqi Kurds had suffered abuse. Just 2.2 per
cent of the city's 224,000 population is non-white
but its ethnic minority community is increasing.
The Home Office said yesterday it had postponed
plans to send more asylum-seekers to Swansea,
already home to about 600 refugees. A spokeswoman
said: "We wanted to make sure that when people come
to Swansea we give them the right support and they
are welcome. We will work in partnership with local
police and the local authority and will take their
advice."
Taha Idris, director of Swansea Bay Race Equality
Council, said voluntary groups, which had become
stretched after Mr Karim's killing, needed more time
to prepare. He said: "There is no racism problem in
Swansea. We appealed to the Home Office and I am
happy they listened to us."
Cliff Filer, acting chief superintendent of South
Wales Police, said it was important "to ensure that
the existing minority ethnic communities are
comfortable and confident before we welcome
additional asylum-seekers to the county".
Mr Karimwas walking home with a friend when he was
attacked. A 26-year-old man has appeared in court
accused of his murder.
http://news.independent.co.uk
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