Rioting in London

Ways to Subscribe

A traffic cone is embedded in the smashed windows of the Arcadia shopping centre on Ealing Broadway following a night of rioting in Ealing on August 9, 2011 in London, England.

After 29-year-old Mark Duggan was fatally shot by police officers, riots started to mount on Saturday in Tottenham, London. Since then, the violence has risen to unexpected levels. Prime Minister David Cameron cut his holiday short and returned to London this morning to deal with the situation. Yesterday evening, British news reported arsons, violence, theft in at least 8 neighborhoods of London and more than 250 people brought in custody. As the violence started to spread to other cities of England, the police force outnumbered by the rioters were unable to contain the incivilities. Today the Prime minister has rallied the forces and has ordered 16000 policemen to patrol the streets. Is this an act of desperation? A reaction to the budget cuts hitting the lower social classes harder? Or is it just hooliganism?

After 29-year-old Mark Duggan was fatally shot by police officers, riots started to mount on Saturday in Tottenham, London. Since then, the violence has risen to unexpected levels. Prime Minister David Cameron cut his holiday short and returned to London this morning to deal with the situation. Yesterday evening, British news reported arsons, violence, theft in at least 8 neighborhoods of London and more than 250 people brought in custody. As the violence started to spread to other cities of England, the police force outnumbered by the rioters were unable to contain the incivilities. Today the Prime minister has rallied the forces and has ordered 16000 policemen to patrol the streets. Is this an act of desperation? A reaction to the budget cuts hitting the lower social classes harder? Or is it just hooliganism?

Guest:

Janet Stobart, Los Angeles Times reporter in London