2011 England riots
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (August 2011) |
| 2011 Tottenham riots | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Metropolitan Police Service | Rioters | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 300 | |||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| 8 injured | |||||
The 2011 Tottenham riots are a series of ongoing riots in Tottenham, London starting on 6 August, 2011. The attacks were carried on two police cars, a bus and a local shop at approximately 22:30 on 6 August 2011.[1] Riot police vans have attended the scene of disturbances on Tottenham High Road. Stores were looted by rioters after store windows were smashed. Fireworks and missiles were also reported to be thrown at riot police by protesters.[2]
The riots are linked to the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old father-of-four by police two days earlier to Tottenham.[3]
Background
The shooting
The riots were preceded by the fatal shooting of 29-year-old father-of-four Mark Duggan by police two days earlier during an "exchange of fire,"[4] which also resulted in an injury to a police officer.[5]
The shooting took place on the Ferry Lane bridge, next to Tottenham Hale Tube station, after an arrest went wrong early on August 6.[6]
Mark Duggan, 29, shot the arresting officer, who was from the elite CO19 firearms squad, in the side of his chest with a handgun. The bullet had lodged in his police issue radio. The officer fired 2 fatal shots at Duggan, with his Heckler & Koch MP5 carbine, after being shot and wounded himself.[6]
The dead man's girlfriend Simone Wilson, 29, told the The Evening Standard newspaper she was 'shocked' to learn her boyfriend of 13 years was carrying a gun.[6]
The incident is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission due to the multi-ethnic nature of the incident.[5]
The protest march
The riots broke out after a peaceful protest march from Broadwater Farm, scene of the Broadwater Farm riot of 1985, to Tottenham Police Station.[7] The protest was organised by friends and relatives to demand "justice for the family"
The event
The riots were a series of disturbances caused by approximately 300 rioters in Tottenham, London on 6 August 2011. Attacks were carried out on two police cars, a bus and a local shop at approximately 22:30 on 6 August 2011. Riot police vans attended the scene of disturbances on Tottenham High Road. Stores were looted by rioters after store windows were smashed.[8] Fireworks and missiles were also reported to be thrown at riot police by protesters.[4] Eight policemen were injured, one of them with head injuries. Fire crews were initially unable to reach a building due to the disorder but later began tackling the flames.
A BBC correspondent said a television news crew and satellite truck also came under attack from youths throwing missiles.[9]
There was further disorder in neighbouring Wood Green, London, during the morning hours of Sunday, when widespread looting broke out[10] in which some 100 youths targeted high-street game shops, electrical stores and clothing chains.[11]
Aftermath
Political reactions
The Home Secretary Theresa May was quoted as saying:
"I condemn utterly the violence in Tottenham last night. Such disregard for public safety and property will not be tolerated, and the Metropolitan Police have my full support in restoring order."
A Downing Street spokesman 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."
References
- ^ "BREAKING: Riots in Tottenham". Sky News. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ "Tottenham in flames as protesters riot". The Gaurdian. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ "BREAKING: Riots in Tottenham". Sky News. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Tottenham in flames as protesters riot". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Man dead and police officer hurt in Tottenham shooting". BBC News. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b c Camber, Rebecca (7 August 2011). "'Gangster' Mark Duggan shot by police in back of London cab after shootout". Mail Online. London. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ Bolesworth, Sarah (7 August 2011). "Tottenham in flames as riot follows protest". The Observer. London. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Laville, Sandra (7 August 2011). "Tottenham riot: 'very volatile' situation contained, for now". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "BBC satellite truck damaged in riots". BBC News. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ Riots, London. "Riots, fires break out in North London". News. MSNBC. Retrieved 07/08/2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Lewis, Paul (7 August 2011). "Tottenham riot: Sustained looting follows night of violence". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "London riots: Police patrol streets after violence".