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Anarchy in London!

Published:Tuesday | August 9, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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A masked youth walks by burning garbage bins set on fire by rioters.
British police officers arrest a man as rioters gathered in Croydon, south London, yesterday.
British police officers charge protesters during riots in Hackney, east London, yesterday. Violence and looting spread across some of London's most impoverished neighbourhoods yesterday, with youths setting fire to shops and vehicles, during a third day of rioting in the city that will host next summer's Olympic Games. - AP Photos
A car burns after it was set on fire by rioters in Hackney, east London. Youths set fire to shops and vehicles in a host of areas of London and clashed with police in the nation's central city of Birmingham, as authorities struggled to halt groups of rampaging young people. - AP
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  • Looting, arson continues - VMBS office pillaged

Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer

Just three days after riots started in Tottenham, at least 16 boroughs of London in the United Kingdom were yesterday reporting either small or large-scale looting of several shops, homes and businesses, and widespread destruction of property, including the burning of several houses, buildings, cars, buses and police vehicles.

The riots exploded out of a peaceful protest by family and friends over the disputed circumstances surrounding the police killing of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old black father of four and son of a Jamaican, last Thursday in Tottenham, Haringey.

Among the boroughs reporting mayhem were Birmingham, Brixton, Clapham, Peckham, Hackney, Croyden, Lewisham, Islington, Enfield and Manchester.

Up to yesterday, the police had not reported any fatalities or injuries, but stated that more than 200 people had been arrested.

"At the end of this, there is going to be a massive loss to the economy," Jamaican Karl Murray told The Gleaner from his home in Birmingham. "I am standing here watching one building that has been burning for over four hours, and the fire is not dying down. This is just unbelievable and will probably end up being much worse than the 1985 riots. This is quite the eye-opener."

Murray, a social researcher who has been living in London for 43 years, added: "There is no longer any reason for what's happening now. That man's killing may have been the catalyst, but now it has taken a different turn. Now it's just mayhem and chaos. There is no purpose behind what is happening. Just pure mindlessness."

He said the police were trying as best as possible to control the situation by containing the incidents in pockets across the boroughs and just allow them to "burn themselves out".

"I don't think there is much else they can do. This really has them spread pretty thin," he lamented.

Not about race

Murray said the turmoil was not race related, as a mixture of all races were equally involved. He added, however, that what was interesting was youth were the main perpetrators. "This is now just gangs of youths right across the city sending out messages to come loot here or destroy this property, stuff like that."

He said yesterday businesses were asked to close early and people were advised to stay off the streets.

Several Jamaican businesses have reportedly been looted, damaged or destroyed, including a branch of the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS).

Peter Reid, senior vice-president and chief operating officer in Jamaica, said no staff member was hurt, but that the building was looted and items such as laptops were stolen. He said VMBS was yet to properly assess the damage.

According to reports from the Metropolitan Police's specialist firearms team, CO19, Duggan was killed during a pre-planned operation to arrest him.

It is reported that the officers stopped a minicab in Ferry Lane and attempted to arrest Duggan, who was a passenger. They reported that a shoot-out ensued around 6:15 p.m., which ended with Duggan being killed on the scene and an officer shot at. The bullet fired at the officer reportedly lodged in his police radio, but there are now conflicting reports as to what really happened.

The Independent Police Complaint Commission, which is investigating the shooting, said a post-mortem on Duggan would take place as soon as possible, while investigators would meet his family to explain how the investigation will take place.

However, family members said they waited in vain and were angered by the lack of information they received, which reportedly fuelled tensions immediately before Saturday's protest and subsequent riot breakout.

The family of Duggan, whose father is Jamaican, has since pleaded with the protesters to stop the rioting. The police have also apologised to the family for the delay in providing them with information relating to the case.

The riots happened at a time when several British leaders, including Prime Minister David Cameron, were out of the country on vacation.

Many believe the severity of this incident will affect the staging of the 2012 Olympics, with events scheduled to be held at various locations, including Hackney, site of the main Olympic stadium in East London.

anastasia.cunningham@gleanerjm.com