LONDON, Aug 8 (KUNA) -- Britain's capital was braced for its third night of rioting tonight as Scotland Yard beefed up its presence to deal robustly with looting thugs.
Police chiefs, politicians and community leaders condemned "opportunistic criminality" amid warnings of more widespread violence on London's streets.
More than 100 people were arrested overnight and early this morning after boroughs in north, south and east London fell victim to copycat rampages following trouble in Tottenham last Saturday.
As minor skirmishes broke out again between police and hooded youths in Hackney this afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said "big scars" would be left from consecutive nights of rioting.
Clegg, who returned from holiday this morning, condemned the violence earlier as "completely unacceptable".
Home Secretary Theresa May was arriving back in London to meet acting Metropolitan Police commissioner Tim Godwin.
Scenes of violence in Hackney echoed those in other areas of the capital over the past two nights, with skirmishes between gangs of youths and police, reportedly prompted by a stop and search incident earlier today.
Rioters, many wearing hoods and masks, were confronted by police lines spanning the width of streets, occasionally moving forward to push the groups back.
Officers in riot gear tried to control the situation, coming under fire from objects including chairs and pieces of wood.
At one point, several people broke into the back of a stationary lorry, pulling its contents out on to the road, with some hurling it at police and others using it to smash windows of a bus.
Later, UK Home Secretary Theresa May has condemned the riots that have blighted the UK capital for three days as "sheer criminality".
At least 215 people have been arrested and 25 charged following the riots across London, she said. Police chiefs, politicians and community leaders condemned "opportunistic criminality" amid a fresh wave of violence. (end) he.rk