Background to Keith Blakelock murder

THE brutal murder of policeman Keith Blakelock during a fierce inner-city riot encapsulated the horrific violence meted out on the Broadwater Farm estate.

The 40-year-old constable was set upon by a mob and hacked to death with a machete on 6 October, 1985, during disturbances in Tottenham, north London. The riots were sparked by the death of Cynthia Jarrett, 49, after four police officers burst into her home.

At the time, Mrs Jarrett's son Floyd was in custody at Tottenham police station over a matter relating to a car tax disc, in which he had allegedly given officers a false name.

The ensuing police raid sparked panic in the Jarrett household and Mrs Jarrett, who had a weak heart, collapsed and died.

The next day a small crowd gathered in protest outside the police station. Tempers escalated during the day as windows were broken and, at 3:15pm, two officers were attacked and seriously injured as the gathering mob began to launch bricks and gunfire broke out.

One of the pair suffered a ruptured spleen when a paving stone was thrown on to his back after he fell to the ground.

A police inspector who drove past the estate had his car window smashed soon after, while a police van answering a 999 call was surrounded and attacked by a mob with machetes, bars and knives.

By the time the first riot-control police arrived, the mob had put up barriers and prepared petrol bombs.

PC Blakelock's death came during attempts to support firemen after a blaze broke out at a newsagent's on the first floor of Tangmere block at 9:30pm.

The officer was surrounded by masked rioters wearing balaclavas and wielding sticks, knives and a machete before he was hacked to death. He suffered 42 separate wounds.

Violence only began to ease off as news of PC Blakelock's death spread and rain began to fall. About 250 police officers were injured in the clashes.