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Dublin: 8 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013

Riots in London as protest turns violent

A protest over the shooting dead of a local man by police turned into a riot in Tottenham, north London, last night, with cars being set on fire and shops smashed and looted.

Image: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire/Press Association Images

RIOTING AND LOOTING gripped the north London town of Tottenham last night, after a protest over the shooting dead of a local man by police took a violent turn.

Police cars, a bus and several shops were set on fire on Saturday night when crowds took to the streets to demand “justice” for the death of Mark Duggan, 29, a father of four, who was shot dead by police last Thursday, the Guardian reports.

The protest began as a peaceful demonstration outside Tottenham police station, with members of the community demanding answers in relation to Duggan’s death. One demonstrator told the Telegraph: “The police have not had the courtesy to come to the family, the decency or respect to tell them what is going on. And that is what we want: answers, justice. And we are going to be here everyday until we get answers”.

However, as night fell proceedings took a violent twist, with vehicles being set on fire and buildings being smashed and looted. Eight police officers were hospitalised following clashes, the BBC reports.

London Fire Brigade said crews had managed to get the fires under control “for the moment”.

Warning: the slideshow below includes images which some viewers may find disturbing.

Riots in London as protest turns violent
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  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday. All images: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire/Press Association Images
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police look on as fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London after members of a community where a young man was shot dead by police took to the streets to demand "justice".
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police patrol the streets in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police look on as fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Fire fighters and riot police survey the area as fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London after members of a community where a young man was shot dead by police took to the streets to demand "justice".
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police treat a man for his injuries before arresting him in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Fire fighters attempt to put out a blaze in a building in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police treat a man for his injuries before arresting him in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police patrol the streets in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    Riot police patrol the streets in Tottenham, north London as trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
  • Shooting in Tottenham Hale

    A rioter throws a burning wooden plank at police in Tottenham, north London after members of a community where a young man was shot dead by police took to the streets to demand "justice".

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Comments (25 Comments)

  • @Paul, WTF that sort of behaviour helps no one. People I know live nearby and said it was horrendous and as for the looters, TOTAL SCUM….

    Reply
  • The usual rent-a-crowd turned up for a barney with the police.

    Reply
  • I came in late last night and had the telly on without the sound ……. I just thought they signed Fabregas in exchange for Gareth Bale !

    Reply
  • briain 07/08/11 #

    Does anyone know what Duggan was doing?

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  • Can someone give me a link to who Duggan was and what he did so I can agree or disagree with the peoples actions.

    Did he run a red light or something and then get shot? He must have done something bad!

    Reply
  • Back to the future. 1980s all over. Soon to be the 1930s. Then the 1940s…..war. Capitalism sucks!

    Reply
  • “Anarchists” – please don’t insult anarchists by associating them with rioters and arsonists. God forbid that anyone should think that the state should not exist, and that taxes are a form of extortion…

    Reply
  • The people rioting were probably “scumbags”. Anyone who carries out such acts of arson is clearly undesirable. Similarly anyone who fires a gun at anyone else (be it police or civilian), in any situation other than in self-defence, warrants such a title.

    However I often feel that the greatest tragedy of all is that there are people like those out there. Don’t get me wrong here, I do believe in free will, and that everybody has a choice to become a criminal (including the “respectable” white collar variety), but in making our choices we are undeniably influenced by the world around us.

    Unfortunately crime prevention is considered to be the domain of police and not of social workers. While the police do have a roll to play, crime like this is a societal problem in its own right. We need to understand druggies and drug dealers, and why they make their choices, to rid society of them once and for all.

    The sort of “hard medicine” advocated by right-wing parties (a stiff jail sentence and/or a lethal injection) is based on free will. The arguments behind it are sound. It just. doesn’t. work.

    Reply
  • Riots are always regrettable in these situations. While its too early to question the nature of this man being shot dead, I reckon the reaction was probably building for a long time. When people in certain areas are systematically neglected by society they obviously develop this siege mentality. Areas are in perpetual hostility with police and its perceived that its about limiting the social deprivation to certain areas rather than helping the community rise out of it. Same with the Love Ulster riots here people want to hit out at the establishment that they perceive keeps them down. Now while I expect the usual reactionary responses from the quasi-fascists on this site, I would just like to state unless you address underlying social problems reactions like this will happen

    Reply
    • Waffler 07/08/11 #

      just because you live in a deprived area doesnt give you the right to shoot cops. and I dont see how burning your local shops down is going to help your area

      Reply
    • Waffler 07/08/11 #

      poverty is no excuse for attempted murder

      Reply
    • At no point did I say shooting anyone is justified, what I said was that the situation in itself acted as a catalyst to incite people to riot. I agree in principle that looting does not help an area and opportunistic criminals probably took advantage. That being said people are effectively disenfranchised in most countries, and these issues must be addressed by society as a whole to prevent such reactions. How come its never in rich areas that these riots happen? because the factors of unrest do not exist in these areas.

      Reply
    • Well the very reason I said its too early to determine the situation was because there was a police investigation. I at no stage condone drug dealing or gangsterism. What I tried to point out was that this situation was obviously a powder keg waiting for a spark. Thats what I find most interesting about the quasi-fascists on here, they have an unbelievable skill at circumventing the actual argument. Its as if at the local Sun and Daily Mail readers convention, a motion was passed, "all argument, intelligent or otherwise must not infringe on our collective ability to jump to conclusions" all in favor say Heil!

      Reply
  • I think it won’t be long before you see something similar in Dublin!

    Reply
  • In Fullerton CA, Police murder a civilian infront of dozens of people. What do Americans do? They make angry phonecalls and write angry letters. Police murder a civilian in London. What do the English do? They burn down the police station and torch some of their cars. THAT is making your fuckin point people! LOL! Americans should be taking notes. I dont believe in violence, but since we are living in a POLICE STATE, its more than warranted. The cops need to realize that they are OUR servants who are there to PROTECT US.. They are not paid to act like jackbooted Nazi thugs.

    Reply
    • This looks like an organised action, Local Gang leader, asks his underlings to get his boys on the street, and many small factions riot. It was probably not connected to the peaceful protest, but it does send a serious message to the police. “Look what we can do coppers!”……
      Depends now on who wants war/peace more.
      I`d put my money on the police winning this one very quietly……..

      Reply
  • Nat Man 07/08/11 #

    What are all those cameras meant to be there for? Surely they should be able to intercept riots like these before they get off of the ground!

    Reply
  • What is wrong with you people? If my brother or friend was unjustly killed I would go mental too. This is the type of uneducated shite talk that comes from cowards like you. Why do you assume that it was Scumbags? Or is it an excuse for you not to stand up for what’s right. The Irish are so weak it makes me sick. It it any wonder why we were ruled by the British for so long

    Reply

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