100 arrested as London hit by second night of rioting

MORE than 100 people have been arrested after fresh bouts of rioting and looting broke out across London overnight.

Emergency services were deployed to respond to "copycat criminal activity" across the city late last night and early this morning, after trouble flared in Tottenham, north London, Scotland Yard said.

Disturbances erupted in several boroughs in north, south and east London, with reports of trouble in Brixton, Enfield, Walthamstow and Islington.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said at least nine officers were injured, including three who were taken to hospital after being hit by a fast-moving vehicle at 12.45am. The officers had been in the process of making arrests after a shop was looted by youths.

Police said 16 people had been charged with offences in relation to the disorder.

Metropolitan Police Commander Christine Jones said officers were "shocked" at the level of violence directed towards them.

She said: "Officers responding to sporadic disorder in a number of boroughs made more than 100 arrests throughout last night and early this morning. This is in addition to the 61 arrests made on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"So far there have been 16 charges, 11 awaiting CPS advice, 17 bailed, one caution, one sectioned under the Mental Health Act and there are 15 ongoing inquiries.

"Officers are shocked at the outrageous level of violence directed against them. At least nine officers were injured overnight in addition to the 26 injured on Saturday night.

"We will not tolerate this disgraceful violence. The investigation continues to bring these criminals to justice."

A fight broke out last night when rival gangs attended King's College Hospital after two victims of minor stabbings were admitted, police said.

Six fire engines were dispatched to deal with a blaze at a Foot Locker shop in Brixton, and witnesses saw riot police clash with looters at a Currys store nearby.

The fresh violence came after a peaceful protest in Tottenham on Saturday, which followed the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, 29, on Thursday.

The looting across London was carried out by "small and mobile" groups, a police spokesman said. He said officers had been attacked and a number of police vehicles damaged.

As violence spread, around 50 youths gathered in Oxford Circus and caused damage to property. Elsewhere, more than 30 youths, many in masks, vandalised and looted shops in Walthamstow Central, while a police vehicle was attacked in Islington, and goods were stolen from a Tesco in Ponders End.