The violence, which shocked the city of 4 million that prides itself on being a largely harmonious cultural melting pot, came as a reaction to reports that youths of Lebanese ancestry had been responsible for a recent attack on two white beach lifeguards. Police had increased the number of officers on patrol after cell phone text messages began circulating calling for retaliation for the attack.

Television images of brawls sparked a string of retaliations in nearby suburbs with cars full of young men of Arab descent smashing 40 cars with baseball bats.

The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 17, 2005
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