...So we have this report that crazed protesters are destroying London

philip_hughes · Post by **philip_hughes** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 14:50

Thought I'd check with the forum dwellers.

1. Are there massive riots over there?

2. Is everyone ok?

mrbadger · Post by **mrbadger** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 14:53

I'm not too clued up, but Guardian Reporter Paul Lewis was cycling around reporting it live over twitter. I didn't read all his tweets, but he seems to be giving a good account, follow him on twitter - PaulLewis and look through his tweets last night.

Sir Crashalot · Post by **Sir Crashalot** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:03

It was 2-300 people burning buildings,cars and looting shops. Whether anyone was in those buildings is unknown.

It started out as a protest about the shooting of a black guy (a known "gangsta" who had a gun and shot at them) by the police a couple of days ago. Then the freeloaders and idiots joined in so they can have the riots they love so much and freebies looted from stores.

BugMeister · Post by **BugMeister** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:04

they just closed all the youth clubs, and the Gov is contemplating even more cuts..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video ... ures-video

young people are just fed up - struggling from day to day, only to be crushed by authority..

things like this flare up, but they can be avoided with sensitive governance..

Gavrushka · Post by **Gavrushka** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:23

So Bugmeister, do you really think the Coalition are responsible for the riot?

I do appreciate you are not a fan of the Conservatives, but this may be stretching things just a little.

I chuckle when I read your posts, I think the Tories are your equivalent of Persia/Iran's British Empire.

I know you are normally very objective and balanced in your political debating, but I feel perhaps you may just be looking at this one a teeny weeny bit askance...

I just hope this is the end of it, and the Police get the right balance tonight, should it be necessary; the local MP said they were too slow to react and too soft last night.

Sir Crashalot · Post by **Sir Crashalot** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:31

The Guardian has a political agenda and is as good as the Daily Mail for twisting facts.

mrbadger · Post by **mrbadger** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:34

Given the reports of what seems to be very organised looting, I suspect this may have started as a legitimate protest then been rapidly overtaken by people wanting to have a fight and others wanting to steal under the cover of the violence.
Then again, if there weren't any problems that needed adressing, that situation wouldn't have emerged.
We live in a society where the rich are instantly compensated for hard times, while the poor face punishment for daring to be unemployed. That is a pretty serious issue.

Antilogic · Post by **Antilogic** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:37

Happy, it's in a different part of London to where I live (about 8 miles away) so it's cool here. As far as I can tell the entire thing is some idiots spoiling for a fight.

EliteM3 · Post by **EliteM3** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:42

Yeah, Riots are in my country too!
But not in my city I think

anyways I'm fine, thats all what I want to feel

brucewarren · Post by **brucewarren** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:47

According to the London Evening Standard an unidentified eyewitness
claims the man was dragged from the car by police, pinned to the ground
and had four bullets put in him when he was down.

If this is true, and it's far too soon to tell, that that's not a shootout but
a police execution. No wonder they are rioting.

BeidAmmikon · Post by **BeidAmmikon** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:49

Why there was no outrage and riots after they've killed Ian Tomlinson?
Because... white men can't jump? (for their own)
Here's to the oppressed French youth in the banlieues!

"Most likely, anarchists." the police will say. Hoodies, beware!
A good occasion to loot some stores and set them on fire.
They could've chosen more expensive ones though...

Just saying. Don't throw, you know, rocks.

mrbadger · Post by **mrbadger** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:51

brucewarren wrote:According to the London Evening Standard an unidentified eyewitness
claims the man was dragged from the car by police, pinned to the ground
and had four bullets put in him when he was down.

If this is true, and it's far too soon to tell, that that's not a shootout but
a police execution. No wonder they are rioting.

Frankly that sounds like utter nonsense, something from a movie, not the UK.

To my knowledge, the only time police are instructed to aim for the head is when the suspect is beleived to have an explosive vest on. In which case they are to fire without hesitation. That's what caused that whole stink when they chased down and killed that south american guy.

Sir Crashalot · Post by **Sir Crashalot** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:56

brucewarren wrote:According to the London Evening Standard an unidentified eyewitness
claims the man was dragged from the car by police, pinned to the ground
and had four bullets put in him when he was down.

If this is true, and it's far too soon to tell, that that's not a shootout but
a police execution. No wonder they are rioting.

It's newspapers that print unsubstantiated nonsense like that who are responsible for spreading hatred and causing riots. Will they be held responsible if that little story causes more trouble?

Antilogic · Post by **Antilogic** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 15:56

brucewarren wrote:According to the London Evening Standard an unidentified eyewitness
claims the man was dragged from the car by police, pinned to the ground
and had four bullets put in him when he was down.

If this is true, and it's far too soon to tell, that that's not a shootout but
a police execution. No wonder they are rioting.

Complete rubbish.

Alee Enn · Post by **Alee Enn** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 16:04

brucewarren wrote:According to the London Evening Standard an unidentified eyewitness
claims the man was dragged from the car by police, pinned to the ground
and had four bullets put in him when he was down.

If this is true, and it's far too soon to tell, that that's not a shootout but
a police execution. No wonder they are rioting.

To those saying this is rubbish or from a movie ... look up how the L.A. riots started.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Los_Angeles_riots

amtct · Post by **amtct** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 16:04

mrbadger wrote:Frankly that sounds like utter nonsense, something from a movie, not the UK.

To my knowledge, the only time police are instructed to aim for the head is when the suspect is beleived to have an explosive vest on. In which case they are to fire without hesitation. That's what caused that whole stink when they chased down and killed that south american guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOI9ahGxMfk

logan86 · Post by **logan86** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 16:10

Clearly it wasn't any kind of police execution. He was some gangster who resisted arrest and shot at the police, clearly a very dangerous individual. How anyone can have any sympathy for him (apart from his family obviously) is beyond me. As for the riots it's quite clear that the local idiots can't be trusted to not go crazy and loot shops and burn down buildings as soon as there is even any indication of police weakness. It's a real shame.

Unforunately this is the kind of situation that makes me think that the poor black communities who are so proud of their culture and their togetherness are actually just full of criminals and animals who aren't to be trusted, just like the white, right wing, old fashioned view would suggest. Obviously that's not true, and it probably isn't representative of most of the members of that community. But still it doesn't do well for white/black relations when they do all of that over a dangerous criminal being shot, in self defense.

But once again I'm sure that it isn't that clear in reality. Many of the criminals and looters were probably white, and many probably didn't even live in the local area. An event like that would attract troublemakers of all different backgrounds from miles around. But on the face of it this is really bad for the local black community, and god knows who's going to fit the bill for all of that damage to homes and property.

Also check out these interesting pictures and articles...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14434552

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14435251

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14434318

Avis · Post by **Avis** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 16:17

BugMeister wrote:they just closed all the youth clubs, and the Gov is contemplating even more cuts..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video ... ures-video

young people are just fed up - struggling from day to day, only to be crushed by authority..

things like this flare up, but they can be avoided with sensitive governance..

If you are suggesting that closing a few youth centres should lead these people to reverting to behaving like animals then you are either doing the youth of totenham a huge diservice or they need to be humainly put down frankly.

I also hate the way some factions have to try and make party political ground out of everything.

mrbadger · Post by **mrbadger** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 16:36

amtct wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOI9ahGxMfk

Wrong country, In the US all police are armed, in the UK only certain police are.

Edit: wow, after a little googling I'm somewhat surprised at how often american police shoot and kill people by accident.

Chips · Post by **Chips** » Sun, 7. Aug 11, 17:17

BugMeister wrote:they just closed all the youth clubs, and the Gov is contemplating even more cuts..
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video ... ures-video

young people are just fed up - struggling from day to day, only to be crushed by authority..

things like this flare up, but they can be avoided with sensitive governance..

There was no youth club where I grew up. There wasn't a park either. There was a field or two, with cows. There was the main road. There was a cul-de-sac.

How on earth did I avoid stabbing people with a kitchen knife or becoming a criminal as no-one gave me entertainment I do not know!!

People, even young adults, teenagers and younger - are responsible for their own actions. Don't lay the fault for their behaviour at anyone other than their own feet. Don't excuse their behaviour, or try to explain it, by saying "it's not their fault because..."

I am disappointed by the Police though. They look scared to take more decisive action against the hardcore element that turned up (the photos seemed to show that they were predominantly white teenage boys - although there were only a handful of photos), which in turn allowed it to grow into a larger outburst. One assumes that unless they police in force tonight, disturbances will continue as they are emboldened by the outcome of last night.

I also wish they'd stop calling it looting. Call it burglary.

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...So we have this report that crazed protesters are destroying London

...So we have this report that crazed protesters are destroying London