Riots erupt in London after death in custody

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Riot policemen look on as a fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London, on Sunday.

Violent riots erupted in north London on Saturday night after a demonstration against the fatal shooting of a local man by the police on Thursday. The police arrested 42 people till late Sunday afternoon for various offences including violent disorder, burglary and theft.
The protesters gathered outside Tottenham police station in north London at around 5.30 pm Saturday to demonstrate against the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, who was killed on Thursday after the police stopped the minicab he was travelling in. A police officer was also shot in the incident in which Duggan, a father of four, was shot dead.
Tottenham, home to a majority of people of West African and Caribbean origin, has always had an uneasy relationship with the police. The area saw London’s worst riots in 1985 over the death of a resident of the Broadwater Farm housing estate who died of heart failure after four policemen burst into her home.
Saturday’s demonstration remained trouble-free until two police cars were attacked at Tottenham High Road, at the junction with Forster Road, at 8.20 pm, Met police commander Stephen Watson said on Sunday. There were unconfirmed reports that violence erupted over alleged attack on a teenage girl by police personnel, but the Met police did not confirm this at all.
The police cars were set alight by protesters in the middle of road, but the cars were empty and no officers were hurt. The rioters also set a bus and a number of buildings in the area on fire.
The Met police personnel were subsequently attacked by rioters with bottles, petrol bombs and other missiles, leading to 26 police officers being injured.
“These are very distressing scenes for Londoners in general and the local community in particular. It’s important we emphasise that the safety of the public is of paramount importance to us. Our intention at this time is to bring things to as swift a conclusion as we can. Our absolute aim is to restore normality,” Mr Watson said.
Despite the anger in the community over the death of Duggan, the Met police said it had no warning of any kind about the violent riots which erupted in the area.
“We did not have warnings that we were going to see the kind of disorder being witnessed tonight. We are aware of raised tensions in the community, which are understandable following the tragic death of Mark Duggan. What we experienced earlier on yesterday evening was a peaceful protest outside Tottenham police station — there was no indication it would deteriorate in this way,” Mr Watson said.
The police watchdog has started an independent investigation of Duggan’s killing in police shooting. “The death of Mr Duggan is extremely regrettable and will be the subject of an independent investigation by the IPCC. It is absolutely tragic that someone has died, but that does not give a criminal minority the right to destroy businesses and people’s livelihoods and steal from their local community,” Met police commander Adrian Hanstock said.
The violence spread to neighbouring areas of Tottenham and the London Fire Brigade said Sunday afternoon it had received 264 emergency calls between 9.30 pm Saturday night and 4.30 am Sunday morning. The firefighting personnel attended 49 primary fires in the Tottenham area, but faced trouble from protesters, who blocked roads and did not let traffic pass. “It is simply unacceptable that fire crews were threatened when they were trying to help protect local people. This mindless violence against firefighters has to stop,” London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority chief Brian Coleman said.
No details have been released about people being injured in the large number of fires in the area and in the looting of numerous shops.
After violence and fires looting erupted in the areas and it was brought to a stop by 1 am in Tottenham and it continued till 5.30 am on Sunday in Wood Green. Looters smashed shop windows in Tottenham and Wood Green and used trolleys to cart away stolen goods from the shops till Sunday morning.
“We are aware that a number of shops were looted and this is very regrettable. We are very aware of how disruptive and costly this will be for large and small businesses and the negative impact on the local community,” the police said.
The police warned that people involved in the rioting would be brought to justice. “For those who involved themselves in this level of violence, there is no excuse,” the police said.
“We have recovered excellent CCTV and those who committed disorder and criminal acts will be identified and held to account for their actions. We appeal to anyone who has information about those who may have been involved in the disorder to contact the police.”
Tottenham MP David Lammy said many people not from Tottenham had taken part in the rioting. “A community that was already hurting has now had the heart ripped out of it,” he said, adding it was smashed by “mindless, mindless people, many of whom were not from Tottenham.”
The Met police is ready to prevent a repeat of Saturday’s violence. “Officers from Tottenham are on the streets and will remain there, working alongside the community to restore calm to the area. Should we have any indication of further violence or other offending, we have a policing plan in place and will respond appropriately,” Mr Hanstock said.