What an insult

5:28pm Wednesday 29th November 2000

Allegations of racism have left diplomatic relations between Barnet and its German twin town at breaking point.

Young anti-racist campaigners claim they suffered abuse and intimidation, and were told to grow "thick skins", during a trip to Siegen. The town halfway between Frankfurt and Cologne has been twinned with the borough for nearly 50 years and has now been called upon to explain itself.

Trouble has been brewing since 12 teenage members of Barnet Youth Against Racism spent ten days in Germany in August. They describe a shocking litany of abuse, including racist insults, chants and intimidation.

Sahara Burale, 18, of West Hendon, said she was made to sleep on an airbed in a cold basement, despite a spare bedroom being available. "They didn't want a black person sleeping in the house," she said on Tuesday.

Khaled Ahmed, 18, of East Finchley, said: "It started from the first day. One of our members was referred to by a parent as the 'chocolate one'." Another black girl was allegedly described as a slave and youngsters were told to go out and look for racism, despite advice they were at risk from racists in the town.

Ironically, the Hendon-based Youth Against Racism group was invited to Germany to help combat racism. A visit to Barnet by German youngsters had passed uneventfully.

A visit by the Mayor of Barnet to Siegen was cancelled earlier this month as the Borough fired off an angry letter. The chairman of Siegen's Friends of Barnet is arriving here this weekend to try to repair the damage.

"We are concerned that such a visit could go so badly wrong. The council has written to Siegen expressing serious concerns," said Alan Williams, leader of Barnet Council, which sponsored the trip.

"Raising the profile of anti-racism was always going to be challenging but we are concerned over the attitude of the German hosts towards the incidents during the exchange visit."

But Keith Dyall, chairman of Friends of Siegerland, said: "We have been taking kids out there for the last 50 years without the slightest hint of trouble. The Germans don't really know what this is all about."

Editor's Choice