London Rioting Spreads To Other Cities

Rioting has continued in London for a third night, but has now begun to spread to other UK cities as well.

Violence flared up in Liverpool, Bristol, Nottingham and Birmingham on Monday night, with reports of violence and looting.

The disturbances in London initially broke out in Tottenham, following a peaceful protest over the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police.

More than 500 people have now been arrested, with more than 100 people being charged with a variety of related offences.

Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his family holiday in Tuscany to return to discuss the crisis. He has recalled Parliament for Thursday in response to the growing crisis. He chaired a meeting with COBRA, the Government's emergency committee and meet with Home Secretary Theresa May and the Metropolitan Police Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin.

In London, an extra 1,700 police officers were deployed and armoured vehicles were brought in, as the violence continued in a number of areas.

Many buildings were set alight, including one in a large furniture shop in Croydon and a Sony warehouse in Enfield, and many shops were looted, including a Tesco store in Bethnal Green, where more than 100 people were involved in the looting, which left two police officers injured.

Three people have also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was injured by a car in Brent, north west London, while attempting to stop suspected looters.

In Birmingham, 138 people were arrested after youths vandalised and looted shops in the city's shopping area. A police station in Holyhead Road in Handsworth was also set on fire.

Around 16,000 police officers are being deployed onto London's streets tonight in a bid to stem the violence. According to reports, the Metropolitan Police are considering using plastic bullets, which have never been used to deal with riots in England before.

All police leave has now been cancelled and special constables and community support officers have also been called in.

It has now been confirmed that a 26-year-old man who was found suffering gunshot wounds in a car in Croydon, south London, during rioting in the area has died in hospital.

The violence has affected football fixtures as well, with England and Holland's friendly match at Wembley, due to take place tomorrow, being called off, while Carling Cup matches, due to be held at Charlton, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bristol City have been postponed.

(KMcA/GK)