I predict a riot!!!

[Lord Beria3]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ondon.html

These pictures would become terrifyingly common in the event of any kind of financial crisis or food/oil shortages in certain parts of London and other inner-city areas.

Scary shit. All those who moan about the police - better a flawed police to anarchy on the streets shown in the pictures above.*

* Thats not to say that police cant improve, but compared to most police forces around the world, they are a alright bunch.

[Ludwig]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ondon.html

These pictures would become terrifyingly common in the event of any kind of financial crisis or food/oil shortages in certain parts of London and other inner-city areas.

Scary shit. All those who moan about the police - better a flawed police to anarchy on the streets shown in the pictures above.*

* Thats not to say that police cant improve, but compared to most police forces around the world, they are a alright bunch.

I think in the event of serious food shortages, the police would be totally overpowered.

The police are not an alright bunch, but they're better than nothing.

[biffvernon]

The proximal cause of the events last night was a policeman killing a citizen.

This is not from the daily Mail: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/tottenham-t ... -get-fire/

[Ludwig]

The proximal cause of the events last night was a policeman killing a citizen.

This is not from the daily Mail: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/tottenham-t ... -get-fire/

Ah, poor rioters and looters, let them burn and steal what they want, it's the least they deserve!

Not saying that the police aren't a bunch of w*nkers, but this article is biased by any standards.

Personally, I don't really care what the causes are of rioting. There's going to be much, much more of it, and if at all possible I want to be away from it.

[biffvernon]

but this article is biased by any standards.

Well yes, I just posted it to contrast with the Daily Mail. It does make a few valid points but seems to omit the allegation that the plucky copper had just had his life saved by the fortunate positioning of his radio, which took the bullet aimed at him by the hapless gangster. I'm sure I've read a similar story from a century ago, but of course it was a cigarette case in those days.

[Cabrone]

Amazing, I was just there the other day.

I feel very sorry for the law abiding citizens of Tottenham, despite the common stereotype there is a fair bit of poverty in parts of the capital and times are hard enough without a load of scum bags running around torching everyone. Just read that there may be a bunch of bodies in the burnt out building, scary scary stuff.

I don't know...............I've experienced nothing but it's all a bit too close for comfort. Maybe time to move on.

Too many people in too small a space.

How about we send them all up to Biff's village in Lincolnshire??

[Kieran]

Well, here's someone who didn't predict a riot with impeccable timing:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ion-misery

I remember having a deeply scary conversation with a couple who got caught up in the Chapeltown riots here in Leeds.Wherever there's a riot it's best to be far, far away from it.

[biffvernon]

And here's what Benjamin Zephaniah wrote.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... CMP=twt_gu

And this, one of the more perceptive tweets:

gazsouthgate -
The Bolsheviks wanted peace, bread and land. The #tottenham rioters want fizzy pop, carpets and moderately priced designer sportswear

The difference a century of progress makes.

[DominicJ]

The Keystone Cops are in no way capable of dealing with serious civic unrest.
But how long do you think it would take 2Para to clear the streets if they were told to crush the rebellion, by any means, necessary or not?

[AutomaticEarth]

The Keystone Cops are in no way capable of dealing with serious civic unrest.
But how long do you think it would take 2Para to clear the streets if they were told to crush the rebellion, by any means, necessary or not?

Indeed, but I think the police response was completely lackluster compare to how they could / should have responded i.e., there was no water cannon, rubber / plastic bullets etc.

Should this happen again somewhere else in London, the police response will be nowhere near as weak as this; I think a line has been drawn, which the police will now cross. Then again I could be wrong....

[adam2]

I have unconfirmed reports of significant trouble in Enfield, North London.
Is anyone able to confirm or deny ?

[DominicJ]

http://www.haringeyindependent.co.uk/ne ... ield_Town/

Apparently so, although it appears rather small.

[madibe]

Going back to the original link - I think it rather funny that the only Computer remaining on the shelf at Comet was the Apple....or was it the only one bolted down?

LOL

[biffvernon]

Live blog from guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2011/ ... e#block-44

It includes this potentially incendiary report:

7.35pm: Initial ballistics tests on the bullet that lodged in a police officer's radio when Mark Duggan died on Thursday night show it was a police issue bullet, the Guardian understands.

The Guardian's crime correspondent, Sandra Laville, reports:


The revelation will fuel the fury in Tottenham about the killing of Mark Duggan by armed officers.

It also undermines suggestions that there was an exchange of fire between Duggan and the police before he died.

The bullet which was found lodged in the radio of one of the officers at the scene is still undergoing forensic tests. But reliable sources have said the first ballistics examinations suggested it was a police issue bullet.

These are very distinct as the Metropolitan Police uses dum dum type hollowed out bullets designed not to pass through an object.

The early suggestion from the IPCC was that the Met officers had returned fire after someone in the minicab opened fire. But the result of the ballistics early test suggests both shots fired came from the police.

Note my post at 10:20 this morning hinting that we might not rush into believing everything.

[biffvernon]

anjalimullany Anjali Mullany
RT @PaulLewis: BREAKING: Serious clashes now in #Enfield. Around 200 teens broke into jewellery store. Police dogs and baton attacks.