London burns in riots after controversial shooting of a black man by Met Police

Tottenham last night became a battleground as a protest after the shooting of Mark Duggan by police turned into a riot. Members of the north London community had gathered on the streets to demand “justice” after the 29-year-old was shot dead on Thursday.

But the protest descended into a night of violence which saw homes and businesses in flames, police cars set alight and a double decker bus left a burnt-out shell.

Petrol bombs and stones were thrown at police in riot gear as they tried to bring the situation under control.

Shops were looted in the chaos, with people taking electrical goods and armfuls of clotheS.

Buildings including a supermarket and a carpet shop were set alight during the riots.
The trouble saw 26 police officers injured in the unrest, and 42 people werearrested for offences including violent disorder, burglary and theft.

Stuart Radose had to flee his flat above a Carpetright shop last night as a fire ravaged the building.Describing the scenes last night, he told Sky News: “We live on the top floor. We could see the rioters coming closer. Aldi was on fire and barricades were being made by rioters. It was really scary.”

Responding to last night’s scenes of violence, a spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The rioting in Tottenham last night was utterly unacceptable.

“There is no justification for the aggression the police and the public faced, or for the damage to property.

“There is now a police investigation into the rioting and we should let that process happen.”

By the early hours of the morning, crowds of looters were smashing shop windows in a retail park near Tottenham Hale tube station and plundering goods from almost every store.

Teenagers and adults were said to have turned up in cars and filled their boots with stolen items, unimpeded by police.

Others arrived on foot and piled shopping trolleys high with looted televisions and other electronic goods, a woman who has lived locally for 10 years but did not want to be named said.
A member of staff at The Carphone Warehouse said every phone in the shop had been stolen.

The sense of anger at what the looters had done was clear.
Nadine Knight, 24, who works in administration at a planning and architecture firm said: “I’m completely and utterly disgusted by what the community has managed to do here.

“They need to come together a bit more and help the community, not damage it.
“I’m so upset, I can’t believe it.”

Another local resident, Norman McKenzie, 37, who works as a security guard at the Next clothes store in the retail park, was also appalled.

He said: “I can understand they’re angry and above all that there’s unemployment and cutting benefits so everything comes together and the cup is full.” . He had been told by his employer not to go to work today “because of the riot”.

Christian Macani, 22, who works in environmental sciences, asked a question that was on the lips of many in his neighbourhood this morning.

“What does this achieve?” he said. “They can’t get away with this, can they?
“People really don’t think. It’s stupid, this. They’ve achieved absolutely nothing. It’s a joke.”

Eight police officers were being treated in hospital today, with Scotland Yard saying at least one had suffered head injuries in the clashes.