Home Secretary David Blunkett strongly condemned the rioters and said they were damaging their own communities.

He said: "I am appalled at the wanton violence and destruction and damage this has done to the well-being of local people, their community and prosperity.

"I commend the police for their bravery and determination in the face of enormous provocation and regret the injuries caused.

"There is no excuse for mindless violence and reckless destruction.

"Whatever the provocation from outside the area, it is overwhelmingly local people who have damaged their own community and its future.

"A local review of events will take place but wider considerations will be substantially dealt with when Herman Ouseley's report into underlying issues in Bradford is published shortly.

"Clearly the responsibility for taking up suggestions in this report will lie with civic and community leaders, whose energy and commitment must now be focused on rebuilding confidence.

"Civic leaders will have to address the problems raised by those who have caused damage to their own neighbourhood and by so doing have reduced the chances of the very improvements they wish others to deliver."

Mr Blunkett also denied police in Bradford were "institutionally racist" and said the community could not blame outsiders for the riots.

Although the initial confrontation was caused by people who had come into Bradford there was no excuse for the destruction that followed, he said.

"What took place in the Manningham district was sheer mindless violence and therefore people acting in a totally anti-social and thuggish fashion, rather than some inherent cause through disadvantage that we need to address."

Mr Blunkett said it was "ridiculous" to blame police attitudes to the Asian community for the disturbances.

"I don't think that last night's riots and violence and destruction of a community that was putting itself back together has anything to do with institutional racism whatsoever.

"It is about people who are prepared to resort to violence and self-destruction in a way that can take us absolutely nowhere."

The rioters had to take responsibility for their actions and should stop looking for "scapegoats".

But he added: "If there are lessons to be learned, including in terms of the police, then we must learn them."