MEMBERS of the Lithuanian community visited Bradford Cathedral this afternoon to commemorate the 30th anniversary of a deadly Soviet crackdown. 

The assault by security forces on a TV tower in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on January 13, 1991, left 14 civilians dead and hundreds injured.

It was aimed at stopping the Baltic state breaking away from the USSR.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Simon Paul Grybas, owner of My Thai restaurants and Ruta Kisio, chair of the Lithuanian community in Leeds along with her two children, Smilte and Viktoria, lit candles and laid 14 roses at the plaque in the cathedral to remember the fallen.

Mr Grybas said: "I wish to honour those who died for freedom and honour my grandfather who was the chairman of the Bradford Lithuanian community.

"The Bradford Lithuanian community were so passionate about freedom, once this happened the first independent president Landsbergis came to visit my grandfather, Stasys Jonas Grybas, and the members of the Lithuanian community.

"Thirty years on it is important to honour my roots."

He said Bradford provided a sanctuary for many Lithuanians who were unable to return to their homeland.

"Today we remember those who died and fought for freedom," he added.