London riots: conflagration and carnage in the capital and beyond

[KeepItReal]

Source: Guardian UK

Croydon

Several large fires engulfed the centre of Croydon on Monday night as the unrest that has gripped London spread to one of the capital's most southerly boroughs.

Residents said the trouble started in outlying neighbourhoods at about 7pm with 200 to 300 youths rampaging through the streets looting and setting fire to shops.

At about 9pm, the trouble had spread to the centre of Croydon where the hundred-year-old Reeves furniture shop was set alight sending flames high into the night. Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell said: "I'm sickened to see this happening in my town. My first instinct is sympathy for the businesses and residents who have been directly affected by what's happened.

Birmingham

The first sign of trouble spreading beyond the London area came in Birmingham where up to 200 youths confronted a police cordon in the city centre and shop windows were smashed. Eyewitnesses said that police appeared to have the situation under control and it "does not look like London." An exclusion zone was established up to half a mile round the Bullring shopping centre which closed early.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/09/london-riots-roundup-birmingham-liverpool

[slackmaster]

1. TMA/DNR

Too Much Alliteration, Did Not Read.

[Fridays Child]

2. TMA/DNR

Too Many Acronyms, Did Not Read. :P

[CreekDog]

8. intelligent comment

oh wait, i meant someone else.

[klook]

3. Woman whose shooting sparked 1985 Brixton uprising died earlier this year.

http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2011/04/woman-whose-shooting-sparked-londons-1985-brixton-riots-dies/

She was 63. From the article: "Dorothy ‘Cherry’ Groce was left paralysed after being shot by an officer in her own home as the police searched for her son Michael. The Jamaican-born mother of eight was standing in her bedroom when she was shot in the chest."

One of her sons said, "“The police have gotten better at covering things up; they wouldn’t make the same mistakes again, like breaking into a woman's house and shooting her. However, it’s still happening, just in a different way."

Sounds like the same tensions are still there, and were just waiting to boil over.

Thanks for the the link to the Guardian article -- amazing times we're living in.

[chill_wind]

4. Pictures (TPM slideshow) and Guardian UK

Slideshow of burning buildings, riot police etc (Tottenham)

http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/londonriots

Those were from this morning.

(Guardian UK liveblog has a few Before and After pictures)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/aug/08/tottenham-riots-before-after-pictures

[AnnieBW]

5. I've got a friend flying into London tonight.

Fortunately, he's headed out of the city, but I think he's got a hotel room booked in London so he can overnight, then take the train to his work site tomorrow. Yeesh.

I'm re-thinking that trip to England next spring.

[cali]

6. My 92 year old mother is in London right now

and knowing her, this won't make her leave.

[Mosaic]

7. Austerity works!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[bemildred]

9. Yay for incompetent, illegitimate government!!!! nt