GANGS of youths are staging roadside robberies while roaming the streets of Blackburn's Asian community.

Police have launched a crackdown on the opportunist crimes being carried out by gangs of up to six Asian youngsters.

But officers have stressed that the attacks are not racially motivated and have urged Asian victims to report crimes in a bid to help them trace the culprits.

There have been physical assaults and knife-point attacks over the last few months in the Audley area of town.

In the last month, a group of youths have stolen a teenager's gold chain after threatening him with a knife and a 15-year-old boy has been headbutted by youths who took his gold ring.

A man walking along Queen's Park Road was threatened with a screwdriver and robbed of £50 by two thieves last week.

Police arrested a man and charged him with robbery last weekend following investigations into recent incidents.

He was due to appear in court today charged with further offences.

Inspector Andy Pratt, head of Blackburn's uniformed pro-active team, said: "These gangs don't care what age, sex or colour their victims are.

"They are just picking on vulnerable people but, because of intimidation, many Asian people aren't reporting attacks.

"This gives the impression that the gangs are just picking on white people but that is not the case.

"I am aware of a number of incidents in which Asian people have been attacked and robbed by Asian youths.

"They need to let us know, so we can do something about it."

Anyone wishing to report an attack can contact police on 353638.

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