LOC17:15
14:15 GMT
LONDON, Aug 7 (KUNA) -- Riots that rocked an area where a local man was
shot by police were roundly condemned Sunday as the shocked community surveyed
the devastation caused.
Community and political leaders were swift to criticize the rioting,
looting and arson that swept across Tottenham in north London last night.
The violence came two days after a man named locally as Mark Duggan, 29,
was gunned down by police.
After a peaceful protest by community members demanding "justice" for
Duggan, the mood turned nasty and buildings and vehicles including a
double-decker bus and two police cars were engulfed in flames.
People were left destitute after being forced to flee their burning homes
and looters went on the rampage in a retail park near Tottenham Hale Tube
station, grabbing whatever they could.
Teenagers and adults were said to have turned up in cars and filled their
boots with stolen items, unimpeded by police, while others stuffed shopping
trolleys with electronic goods, reports said.
Every single handset was stolen from a mobile phone shop.
Scotland Yard said 26 officers were injured during the unrest, and 42
people were arrested for offences including violent disorder, burglary and
theft.
Downing Street called the rioting "utterly unacceptable", while Home
Secretary Theresa May said: "Such disregard for public safety and property
will not be tolerated."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said he was "appalled at the scenes of
violence and destruction".
Local MP David Lammy said the community "had the heart ripped out of it" by
"mindless, mindless people", many of whom had come from outside Tottenham to
cause trouble.
Speaking from behind the police tape in the main Road today he said: "What
happened here on Thursday night raised huge questions and we need answers.
"The response to that is not to loot and rob. There are homeless people
standing back there.
"We have officers in hospital, some of whom are seriously injured. It's a
disgrace. This must stop."
Cries of "the police want to see the place burn" greeted Lammy's speech.
The sense of anger at what the looters had done was clear among the local
community today.
Police Commander Adrian Hanstock told reporters at Scotland Yard that there
had been "no indication" that violence would flare up.
He said: "Last night's peaceful demonstration was hijacked by a small
number of criminal elements, who used that for their own gain.
The looting, the damage, the concern that has been caused to businesses and
people who have lost their homes and their livelihoods is absolutely
unacceptable."
He said that things have changed since the riots at Broadwater Farm in 1985.
"There have been problems in the past, but I wouldn't say there is
animosity. We have a vibrant community in Tottenham and we want to enable them
to live peacefully.
"We don't accept that there is overwhelming discontent within the community.
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