Monday 8 August 2011

London Riots

60 years ago, Londoners stood together to defend their city from the kind of destruction now being inflicted upon it by its own

  • Further violence has broken out between police and groups of young people in Hackney
  • Cars have been set on fire in Lewisham, while a bus and shop have been set ablaze in Peckham
  • Shop windows have been smashed and looting has also taken place in Birmingham
  • Home Secretary Theresa May has condemned the riots as "sheer criminality"
  • Acting Met Police Commissioner Tim Godwin has said the force will be publishing photos and CCTV footage of those involved
  • At least 215 people have been arrested and 25 charged so far in relation to the three days of violence
  •  
  •  

Violence has broken out for a third consecutive day in London, with riot police deployed and firefighters tackling blazes across the capital.
Cars were set on fire in Lewisham and a bus and shop were set ablaze in Peckham. A large furniture shop in Croydon is also well alight.
In Hackney, police sealed off an area after police car windows were smashed.
The prime minister is returning early from holiday to chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra.
David Cameron, who is on holiday in Italy, was due to board a flight on Monday night ahead of a meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May and Acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Tim Godwin.
Trouble flared earlier after a man was stopped in Hackney and searched by police but nothing was found.
There were also fears trouble may spread further afield as police in riot gear were deployed in Birmingham city centre after scores of youths rampaged through the shopping area, smashing windows.
Philippa Thomas reports from Hackney
The fresh violence prompted Mr Godwin to called on parents to contact their children and urged the public to clear London's streets.
Up to 200 police officers in riot gear are in the Hackney area and are clashing with youths, who have tried to set fire to vehicles.
Groups of people began attacking the police in Hackney at about 16:20 BST, throwing rocks and a bin at officers.
Police cars were also smashed by youths armed with wooden poles and metal bars.
Looters also smashed their way into shops, including a JD Sports store, before being dispersed by police.
Planks of wood taken from a lorry were then hurled towards lines of riot officers.

At the scene

In a lane off Mare Street the wreckage of a burnt-out car still smoulders, surrounded by riot police.
At least for now, the violence in this half of London seems to have abated. I was talking to one young man who had received on his BlackBerry a list of places where he said there will be further trouble tonight.
He didn't tell me which places and stressed it is speculation. But he and a friend told me frustration with poverty in the area was boiling over.
On Mare Street there is the sound of crunching as police vans run over broken glass. Much of it from a bottle bank which was overturned providing makeshift missiles for rioters who lobbed the bottles at police.
Violence has broken out in Peckham, south London, where a shop and a bus have been set on fire.
In nearby Lewisham, a number of vehicles and a trail of bins on fire.
At least 215 people have been arrested and 25 charged following the riots across London over the last two days.
In Birmingham City Centre looters have attacked several shops, smashing windows and stealing items.
An eyewitness said windows have been smashed in McDonalds and Jessops near Birmingham Cathedral and a sign has been thrown through a gym window.
London's mayor Boris Johnson is cutting short his holiday to return to the city.
Home Secretary Theresa May also returned early from holiday, to meet Metropolitan Police (Met) chiefs to discuss their response to the violence.
Theresa May: London rioters 'will be brought to justice'
Mrs May condemned the riots as "sheer criminality" and said those responsible would "face the consequences of their actions".
The trouble follows two nights of violence over the weekend which started after police shot a man dead in Tottenham.
Mrs May said: "The riots in Tottenham on Saturday night and the subsequent disturbances in other parts of London are totally unacceptable."
A peaceful protest in Tottenham on Saturday over the fatal shooting by police of Mark Duggan, 29, was followed by violence which spread into Sunday.
A candlelit vigil was due to be held at The High Cross in Tottenham on Monday evening.
Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said there were "significant resources" on the streets, with a third more officers on duty than on Sunday.
He said: "What we can see is that the Metropolitan Police are getting police officers there in numbers.
"When we have large numbers of criminals intent on that type of violence, we can only do that, get lots of officers there quickly and try to protect local businesses and local people."
He also admitted relations with the family of the man shot dead by police could have been handled better.
Mr Kavanagh said: "I want to apologise to the Duggan family because I think both the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission) and the Metropolitan Police could have managed that family's needs more effectively."
John Adderley in Peckham: "I could see a bus on fire"

No comments:

Post a Comment