 Bulldoze Redfern ghetto: Brogden From AAP 16feb04 NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden today labelled as thugs those who left up to 50 police injured in a violent riot at Redfern and said bulldozers should flatten the inner-Sydney suburb. Police were pelted with bricks, bottles and Molotov cocktails last night by an angry mob protesting against the death of 17-year-old Thomas Hickey, who was fatally impaled on a fence on Saturday. Policy deny claims they were chasing the teenager when he was fatally injured. Mr Brogden said despite the social problems plaguing the mostly Aboriginal community in Redfern, there was no excuse for such violent behaviour. "Put aside all the social problems that are well-known about down here in Redfern, and none of what happened last night is acceptable," Mr Brogden said. He said police should have been better equipped to deal with the rioters and bulldozing the area, notorious for drug dealing and crime, could help. "The fact that 40 or 50 police were injured whilst they stood there and copped it from young Aboriginal thugs and others is an unacceptable position going forward," Mr Brogden said. "I'd bring the bulldozers in because I think allowing this to happen every couple of years, which is what's going to happen, will never fix the problem." AAP
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