Altab Ali: The Murder That Shook East London
On 4 May 1978, Altab Ali, a young Bangladeshi textile worker, was murdered in a senseless act of racial violence in East London. His death sent shockwaves through the local community and sparked mass protests, yet it also exposed the systemic failures of a society grappling with racism and inequality. Altab Ali’s murder became a rallying cry for justice and a symbol of the fight against racial violence, but the aftermath revealed the slow and often frustrating pace of change. This is the story of his life, his tragic death, and the legacy he left behind.
The Life of Altab Ali
Altab Ali was born on 24 October 1953 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Like many from his homeland, he migrated to Britain during the 1970s in search of better opportunities. He settled in East London, where he worked in the textile industry and became part of the growing Bengali community concentrated around Brick Lane. At the time, East London was both a cultural hub for immigrants and a site of racial tension. Economic decline, unemployment, and a housing crisis had fuelled resentment, with far-right groups like the National Front exploiting these issues to scapegoat immigrant communities. The Bengali population, despite their contributions to the local economy and culture, faced daily hostility and violence.
The Murder of Altab Ali
On 4 May 1978, Altab Ali was walking home from work, cutting through St. Mary’s Churchyard, a route he often used. Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched by three teenagers—Roy Arnold, Carl Ludlow, and a 16-year-old boy. The boys had no personal connection to Ali; their motivation was purely racial. They ambushed him, stabbing him to death in a brutal and unprovoked attack.
When questioned by police, the 16-year-old chillingly admitted, “No reason at all,” and added,
“If we saw a Paki, we used to have a go at them. We would ask for money and beat them up. I’ve beaten up Pakis on at least five occasions.”
This callous statement underscored the dehumanisation of South Asians in Britain at the time and the normalisation of such violence within certain sections of society.
Racial Tensions in East London
Altab Ali’s murder was not an isolated incident. The Bengali community in East London had long been the target of racist violence, particularly in and around Brick Lane. Far-right groups frequently marched through the area, distributing propaganda and vandalising properties. Physical assaults on Bengali residents were common, and institutional racism within the police often left victims feeling unprotected and ignored.
The National Front’s presence in the area exacerbated these issues, with their hateful rhetoric inflaming tensions and creating a climate of fear. For the Bengali community, Ali’s murder was a culmination of years of hostility and neglect.
The Protests and Community Mobilisation
The murder sparked immediate outrage. The Action Committee Against Racial Attacks (ACARA), a coalition of activists, quickly organised a response. On 14 May 1978, just ten days after Ali’s death, a mass demonstration was held. Thousands of people marched from Brick Lane to Hyde Park, carrying Altab Ali’s coffin at the front of the procession.
The demonstration was a deeply emotional event. Protesters carried banners demanding justice and chanted against racism and fascism. The march ended at Downing Street, where a petition was delivered to the Prime Minister. Photographer Paul Trevor captured powerful images of the event, documenting the grief, anger, and determination of the Bengali community. The protest was one of the largest anti-racist demonstrations of the time, reflecting a community’s resolve to fight back against violence and discrimination.
The Trial and Sentencing of the Killers
The three teenagers responsible for Altab Ali’s murder—Roy Arnold, Carl Ludlow, and the 16-year-old—were quickly arrested and brought to trial. During the proceedings, their lack of remorse shocked the public. The 16-year-old’s casual confession—“no reason at all”—highlighted the normalisation of racial violence in Britain at the time.
Despite the brutality of their crime, the court convicted them of manslaughter rather than murder, ruling that the attack, while deliberate, lacked premeditation. The sentencing was lenient. Roy Arnold and Carl Ludlow, both 17, received reduced prison terms, while the 16-year-old, due to his age, was given an even lighter sentence.
The verdict and sentences outraged the Bengali community and anti-racist campaigners. Many saw the outcome as a failure of the justice system to recognise the racial motivations behind the crime and to adequately punish such violence. The case became a symbol of the broader institutional neglect faced by immigrant communities.
The Limited Impact of the Protests
While the protests following Altab Ali’s murder were significant and drew national attention, the changes they inspired were frustratingly slow and limited. Racially motivated attacks continued in East London, and far-right groups like the National Front remained active. The systemic issues of institutional racism within the police and justice system persisted, leaving the Bengali community feeling vulnerable and unprotected.
The renaming of St. Mary’s Churchyard to Altab Ali Park in 1998 was a meaningful gesture, and the park now serves as a site for annual commemorations. However, for many, it was a symbolic act that failed to address the deeper structural inequalities and violence that continued to affect immigrant communities.
The Legacy of Altab Ali
Altab Ali’s murder was a tragedy, but it became a powerful symbol of resistance. His name now stands for the resilience and determination of a community that refused to be silenced. The protests and activism that followed his death laid the groundwork for future anti-racist movements, even if they did not immediately dismantle the systemic problems at the root of such violence.
Today, Altab Ali Park serves as a place of remembrance and reflection. Annual events honour his memory and remind new generations of the ongoing fight against racism. His story is taught in schools and referenced in anti-racist campaigns, ensuring that his legacy endures.
While the changes sparked by his death were incremental and often frustratingly slow, Altab Ali’s name remains a rallying cry for justice.
The photographer that captured these images, Paul Trevor, was born in London in 1947. He grew up on a kibbutz in Israel, studied at the National Film & Television School, and was a founder member of Camerawork, the UK’s first radical photo magazine. In 1973, with fellow photographers Chris Steele-Perkins and Nicholas Battye, he formed the Exit Photography Group… The Exit archive is now housed and administered by the LSE.
You can see more of this history at Four Corners.
