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LONDON, Dec 24 (AFP): The number of south-east Asian and black people stopped and searched by police in London rocketed after the July 7 attacks on the capital's public transport network, The Guardian said Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police stopped and searched more than 10,000 people using controversial anti-terrorism powers in the two months after the atrocity which killed 56, including the four suspected Islamic extremist suicide bombers.
The Guardian obtained the figures for July 7 to September 5 following a Freedom of Information request.
A total of 2,405 south-east Asian and black people were stopped while walking, compared with 196 in the same period in 2004.
For vehicles, the number of white people stopped increased 86 per cent, 108 per cent for Afro-Caribbean drivers and 193 per cent for south-east Asians.
The legislation-section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 -- allows people and vehicles to be stopped and searched if officers deem it necessary to prevent terrorism.
The procedure has attracted complaints of abuse because of its apparent greater use on ethnic minorities.
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