London's Burning

[CatInASuit]

I've been watching the news feeds of the incoming riots, civil disturbances, looting, call it what you may and I feel sick.

My home city is burning and the police are stretched beyond all measures.

This isn't an anarchistic riot, this isn't a social revolution, it's sheer ciminal behaviour from those who think that they can get away with it.

Watching shops I know burning down, shops I've been in, bought from, made friends with the owners, it's heartbreaking.

Reeves store, 140 years of being there, the area is named after it, gone in one night, nothing left, just a pile of ashes, people out of work and an utter sense of disbelief that this could ever happen.

It has never been this bad before in living memory and that includes the Brixton riots, which had some reason behind why they occured.

More here.

[Sarahfeena]

I am so sorry about this, I know I would be devastated if it happened here in Chicago. So, so terrible.

[Orual]

I am saddened and baffed in equal parts. I still don't quite understand what instigated this behavior, and I'm astonished that the police/British government have such a poor handle on the situation. It's like a bunch of Brits just woke up and decided: "oh lets go out for some anarchy and wanton destruction. The world doesn't have enough troubles this week."

Firebombing??

[What Exit?]

What is causing this? I mean is at all like the riots that went through many US cities in the 60s and 70s? Is it a disenfranchised group? Youth without hope? Is it anti-government? Anti-establishment? Just idiots running wild?

[Myglaren]

Just idiots running wild!!

[The Original An Gadaí]

What is causing this? I mean is at all like the riots that went through many US cities in the 60s and 70s? Is it a disenfranchised group? Youth without hope? Is it anti-government? Anti-establishment? Just idiots running wild?

I think a combination of all those but with the emphasis on the latter. The idea has spread that it's great fun, you can get a load of cool stuff, and not that many arrests are being made.

Different times of the year are flashpoints for rioting in Northern Ireland, where riots are a semi-regular occurance. There, such activities are dubbed "recreational rioting" because although there may be some political kernel that explains (if not excuses) the actions of some, loads of hangers-on just turn up to cause trouble, throw stones at cops, fire brigade with impunity.

[CatInASuit]

A lot of these people are opportunistic vandals and a mixture of people who are along for the ride and losing themselves in mob mentality. It is surprising the range of people involved in this mindless hooliganism. A mixture of underclass to well respected people who have jobs and lives and are just following along as a moment of madness.

A lot of them don't expect to get caught, after all there is so many of them and the police are fully stretched and a few CCTV images mean nothing. Most don't think there will be any repercussions over their actions, because well, its just a pair of trainers, few clothes etc. I think the magistrate courts are going to set an example and several people are going to going to lose their jobs, homes and families over this. I think a lot of the looters are going to get picked up in the next few days when they think they may have got away with it.

It was quiet in London overnight, but trouble has flared up in other areas across the country. What is interesting is that not just the police but a lot of local community groups decided enough was enough and have been defending their own territories. Somehow, the looters managed to make themselves the most hated people in Britain.

They have also arrested someone for burning down Reeves Store. I hope the police keep him under wraps, because I bet a lot of the locals would love to have a word with him about exactly what he did.

[Myglaren]

Three men killed while guarding a shop - Yahoo

Vandals unconcerned about their action - BBC Today

[Myglaren]

Rioting has spread to now.