UK riots: trouble flares in Salford, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Trouble flared in three more areas of England early on Tuesday evening as youths took to the streets in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich and tried to attack a shopping centre in Salford.

Two cars were set on fire in West Bromwich where shops closed early in the afternoon after rumours of trouble circulated online. West Midlands police advised people to avoid the high street and inner ring road and to keep away from the Dudley Street area of central Wolverhampton, where a mob attacked three shops.

In central Manchester a gang set fire to a Miss Selfridge shop. In Salford, officers in riot gear confronted about 70 teenagers who tried to break into a closed shopping centre and pelted armoured police vans with stones.

Terry Sweeney, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said on the force's Twitter feed: "Aware of pockets of minor disorder in Salford city centre. Advising people to stay out of city centre but also keep calm."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/09/riots-salford-wolverhampton-west-bromwich

[cutlassmama]

1. Why aren't shop owners banding together and trying to defeat these people?

[MineralMan]

3. Using what? They're unarmed, by law.

Are they supposed to stand in their shop doors and tell the rioters that they can't come in in a stern voice?

This is the UK. It is not Los Angeles, where the shopkeepers took rifles to their roofs and made it clear that nobody was going to do anything to their shops. You can't do that in the UK.

[SteveM]

4. With what? England has a strict gun ban -- for ordinary citizens...

As I have posted elsewhere on these riots, whether there is some kind of just cause or sympathetic ideologies doesn't matter: If you go after the average Joe or Jill's family, home and business, you can expect a hard response -- in the U.S. Many residences and businesses in L.A. after the Rodney King verdict (92?) were NOT torched. Of course, those affected made it be known that they were armed. Note response #42 and the picture of Koreans shop owners and their undamaged building. Why is that?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x446925

[MellonCollie]

5. They're starting to

Here are some of the Turkish community chasing away rioters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXFuf5Cjy-A

These are supposed to be residents of Enfield taking to the streets:



Muslims chased rioters away from the Whitechapel Mosque last night.


The average man and woman on the street are starting to get pissed off with both the rioters and the police.

[Stella_Artois]

7. More pictures of members of the public out on the streets defending their areas

The police may have been restrained, but these are supposedly Millwall fans. I doubt they would be so charitable if they get their hands on some looters.

[dipsydoodle]

12. Could be Millwall fans I suppose

or those of many other football clubs who are somewhat less than impressed that all London home games have been cancelled for this week as has the friendly between England and Holland at Wembley Stadium.

What made you think they were Millwall ? Apart from maybe family outings our football fans haven't changed the way they dress much for donkeys years. They are not into "hoodies" neither are they mugs.

ICF visits Millwall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecrQBpBAhZY&feature=related

Assuming you're not English see here for ICF : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter_City_Firm
Clever bastards - the police were always on the lookout for groups of away supporters. So - they used to travel separately even suited up at times so each one just looked like Joe Normal. Then they meet up and change into their polo shirts and jeans whatever ready for the "game".

[JAnthony]

8. Interesting and commendable that muslims are PROTECTING

their area of the city. What normal people do, proving once again that ...

well, most people on DU know what this proves.

[Stella_Artois]

9. On a slightly better note, this is the real London

Not the scum looters, these are ordinary members of the public who have turned out to clear up the mess caused by the mindless vandals.

[MellonCollie]

10. Yeah, that put a smile on my face today! :) n/t

[War Horse]

11. Thank you n/t

[JAnthony]

14. I love that broom brigade picture! n/t

[MellonCollie]

13. Sikh community standing guard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5aHoW-5qMc

[Ian David]

2. This will be when the Daleks show-up. n/t

[slackmaster]

6. I'd give this a Triple Rec if the laws of physics permitted it

Three more places I've never heard of before!