Community, faith and political leaders have joined together to urge calm following a weekend protest in Burnley sparked by last week's stabbing of a young girl in neighbouring Brierfield.

The gathering, which attracted a small number of demonstrators, came as Burnley prepares to mark 25 years since the disturbances that brought the town to national attention in the summer of 2001.

Now, voices from across the borough are urging residents not to allow the actions of one individual to undermine decades of work to improve community relations.

Leading the calls for unity was Burnley Council leader Coun. Afrasiab Anwar who said the priority must remain the young victim and her family.

He said: “Burnley has always shown its strength in difficult moments. We must not allow the actions of one individual to divide our town or damage relationships between communities.”

The appeal has been echoed by Building Bridges in Burnley, the community cohesion organisation established in the aftermath of the riots. Programme manager Esther Ferry-Kennington said Burnley had learned important lessons over the past quarter-century and had become more resilient against those seeking to sow division.

She said the town's response should be rooted in dialogue, mutual respect and communities coming together rather than confrontation.

Church leaders have also spoken out. Fr Andrew Holmes, on behalf of Churches Together in Burnley, said the town had the opportunity to demonstrate the strength that comes from people of different faiths and backgrounds living alongside one another.

“At a time when headlines can often focus on division, Burnley has the chance to model something different,” he said.

“In a world that can sometimes feel divided, Burnley continues to offer a powerful and hopeful story – one where people of different faiths live, work and grow together in mutual respect,” he added passionately.

“At the heart of this story is a simple but profound idea: love.

“For those of us in Churches Together in Burnley, love is not just a word spoken on a Sunday morning. It is something lived out daily – in conversations with neighbours, in acts of kindness, and in our commitment to building a community where everyone feels valued and welcome.

“For many people of faith, love is at the very centre of our teaching. In the Christian tradition, we are called to ‘love our neighbour as ourselves.’ This call echoes values found across many other religions. When we put this into practice together, it becomes a powerful force for unity and peace in our town.

Man charged with stabbing a teenage girl in Brierfield

“As Churches Together in Burnley, we are committed to continuing this journey of mutual understanding and cooperation. We believe that the strength of our town lies not in uniformity, but in the richness of its diversity – a diversity held together by shared humanity and a commitment to the common good.

“At a time when headlines can often focus on division, Burnley has the chance to model something different. By choosing love – in action, in word, and in spirit – we can continue to build a community where people of all faiths and none feel at home.

“Because in the end, love is not just an ideal. It is something we do.”

The calls come as police continue their investigation into the stabbing, with a suspect in custody, and after officers imposed a dispersal order in Burnley town centre following Saturday's protest.

With the anniversary of the 2001 disturbances approaching, community leaders say Burnley's story should be one of progress rather than division – and of a town determined not to revisit the tensions of the past.