Eight police officers were being treated in hospital today following riots which broke out two days after a man was shot dead by police.
Scotland Yard said at least one of the officers had suffered head injuries after protesters clashed with police in Tottenham, north London.
Trouble flared after members of the community took to the streets last night to demand "justice", after Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead by police on Thursday.
The riots saw buildings and vehicles set alight, including two patrol cars, a police van and a double-decker bus, and shops looted as police in riot gear arrived on the scene.
Hundreds of people gathered in the street, including mounted police, as smoke poured into the air from the lighted bus.
Fire engines descended on the area and thunderflashes were thrown at police on horseback.
After sections of Tottenham High Road were cleared of protesters, "pockets of trouble" continued to flare in nearby areas, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
Two vans were reported to have been set ablaze in nearby Rheola Close, and Sky News said that its reporter and cameraman had to withdraw from the area over safety fears.
There were also reports of looting in Tottenham Hale Retail Park.
A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said paramedics had treated 10 people, and nine were taken to hospital.
The violence erupted after around 120 people marched from the local Broadwater Farm area to Tottenham police station yesterday, forcing officers to close the High Road and put traffic diversions in place.
After night fell, two police cars parked about 200 yards from the police station were set upon.
Scotland Yard said in a statement: "Two police cars had parked up at Forster Road/ High Road while their officers conducted traffic patrols on foot. This is about 200 yards north of Tottenham Police Station.
"At approximately 8.20pm a number of bottles were thrown at these two cars. One was set alight and the second was pushed into the middle of the High Road. It was subsequently set alight.
"The officers were not in the vehicles and were unhurt.
"Officers from the Territorial Support Group have been deployed to disperse the crowd. They are deployed to the north and south of Tottenham Police Station in the High Road, and are subject to bottles and other missiles being thrown at them by the crowd."
A family friend of Mr Duggan, who gave her name only as Nikki, 53, said the man's friends and relatives had organised the protest because "something has to be done" and the marchers wanted "justice for the family.
About three hours later, the protests turned tense when the crowd got bigger and started hurling projectiles and bottles at police cars, setting them ablaze, authorities said.
"We did not have warnings that we were going to see the kind of disorder being witnessed tonight," said Cmdr. Stephen Watson. "We are aware of raised tensions in the community, which are understandable following the tragic death of Mark Duggan."
Protesters pelted officers with bottles and bricks as police charged at the crowd and blocked off streets.
A double-decker bus and some buildings in the area were also set ablaze, sending bright orange flames glowing in the night sky.
"For those who involved themselves in this level of violence, there is no excuse," Watson said.
Watson said the perpetrators may be brought to justice. But for now, the priority is to maintain calm.
No comments:
Post a Comment