London riots: A summary of events so far

Published on Tuesday 9 August 2011 12:44

Ugly scenes of violence, rioting and looting have spread across the length and breadth of the capital since erupting three days ago.

The trouble initially flared on Saturday night following a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police.

But by the early hours of today a large number of London boroughs had been left devastated by the trouble, with violence also erupting in cities away from the capital

• In Hackney between 250 and 300 people gathered on the Pembury Estate, torching cars and hurling petrol bombs at riot police.

Scores of local businesses in Mare Street were broken into and looted by the troublemakers during the afternoon - many of whom were wearing hoods and masks.

Three officers were injured, but not seriously, as missiles were hurled at police lines.

• Peckham in the south east of the capital witnessed similar scenes of violence.

Around 500 youths gathered in Peckham High Street, vandalising shops, lighting fires and targeting officers with missiles.

Teams of riot police were seen charging at fleeing rioters after a major fire was started at a shop adjoining a Greggs bakery.

• Croydon in south London also witnessed ugly scenes, with a string of cars and buildings set alight by gangs of youths.

A man was injured in a shooting, while Reeves, a family furniture business that has stood in the area for more than 100 years, was gutted following a massive blaze.

• In Ealing, west London, locals reported similar scenes of violence with groups of youths congregating in Haven Green park opposite Ealing Broadway Tube, throwing bricks at local shops, starting fires in the street and torching cars.

• Clapham also witnessed violence with looters preying on shops and causing widespread disruption.

Youths raided a Debenhams store and a number shops in Lavender Hill, while some broke into a fancy dress store near Clapham Junction stealing masks to conceal their identities.

Scotland Yard said armoured police vehicles were used in Lavender Hill to push back more than 150 people in the area.

• In Bethnal Green, more than 100 people looted a Tesco premises and two officers were injured.

• Police said there had also been looting in Stratford High Street, Newham.

• Roaming groups of youths were also involved in disorder in a number of locations in Lewisham, the Metropolitan Police said.

• A number of officers were also called to Camden in north London to deal with troublemakers.

• In Enfield, around 40 firefighters tackled a large blaze, reported to have been started by looters, at a Sony warehouse in Solar Way.

The trouble also spread away from the capital last night, with copycat riots taking place in Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol.

:: Merseyside Police said there were "a number of isolated outbreaks of disorder", including burning cars and criminal damage, in the south Liverpool area.

• West Midlands Police said around 100 arrests were made after rioters rampaged across Birmingham city centre and some surrounding areas.

Hundreds of youths gathered in the city's main retail area close to the Bullring shopping mall, which closed its doors early in anticipation of violence, while there were reports that a police station in Handsworth was set on fire.

• More than 150 young rioters also caused disruption in the areas of St Paul's and Stokes Croft in Bristol, with police urging members of the public to stay away from the city centre.

ends