London Riots

[Pica Pica]

Reports of shops being looted and smashed into on my mum's road - she must be in bed though, she's not answering.

This video from her street.

UK RIOTS LONDON : 8 august 2011 Elephant and castle walworth road

[Anatta]

Reports of shops being looted and smashed into on my mum's road - she must be in bed though, she's not answering.

Kia Ora Pica,

I hope your mother's OK, I just rang my sister who lives in Bermondsey,[That's where I'm originally from] she said things were pretty quite where she lives business as usual, so to speak...She was under the impression the police would have it all under control soon[perhaps wishful thinking on her part but I hope she's right]...

Metta Zenda

[Pica Pica]

She'll be fine - ring 'er in the morning.
Getting some hair raising stories from my mates in Peckham.

The story in Dalston -

"We've detoured to Dalston where a bus was set on fire in shacklewell lane earlier. The single deck bus is now cordoned off and there doesn't seem to be much damage, but the incident has clearly shaken the large Turkish community here. Many shopkeepers are on the street talking about how they chased away the gang of youths behind the bus fire.

"We beat up four of them quite badly and they ran off," one man, who wouldn't give his name, said. Another said: "this is not justice, coming here and trying to attack us." Notably several businesses are still open ascot usual here, unlike other violence hit areas.

We've just watched a mob of locals chase a gang of hoodies down the main road, with police vans on full siren in pursuit." - Guardian website.


Photo of the Turkish guys standing down rioters.


Also interestingly - the next chapter in my book culminates in a large violent mob.

[Pica Pica]

Police car on fire, looting &c...in Woolwich now.

Top retweet:  "The Youth of the Middle East rise up for basic freedoms.The Youth of London rise up for a HD ready 42" Plasma TV #londonriots"

Top video
Truly extraordinary speech by fearless Black Woman in face of Hackney London rioters - A MUST SEE.

[Pica Pica]

Looting in Clapham now, it's been widely reported that they ransacked curry's and debenham's but left the bookshop alone. This being my old stomping ground - rather well to do nowadays.

Clapham Junction, Europe's busiest train station shut. No fires just looting - police don't have the gear.

This video has a reporter asking looters whether they are proud of what they are doing...looks like it's down clapham to get a new camcorder.
Clapham Junction looting

"Madness of today summed up by a looter in Clapham who waited for the green man at crossing with a TV & laptop under his arms #londonriots"

Rioting in Ealing - just down the road, restaurants and shops smashed, more cars on fire. Sirens filling the ear.

[Pica Pica]

Possibly Camden, unsure - the tweets are saying so.

This picture from Camden.

Also Tower Bridge and Old Kent road, probably the same people from my mum's road.

The BBC are unable to keep track of everything, they won't sent out cars because one of them got smashed up. BBC crews being attacked.

Colliers wood now, chalk farm - seems like here is almost only place untouched, very surprising.

- My mates ' am indoors but I am on the main road as well , the police station is just a couple of metres from my place and everything is happening there... Laying on bed, awake, just in case I hear shouts or screams so I can do sth... Xxx'
-'there was black smoke billowing from behind our house moment ago, now there's a sunshine and a rainbow falling on the same spot.'

Feels crazy.

[Pica Pica]

The shop in Clapham where I bought my three corned hat is on fire now - possible flats upstairs - reporter nearly crying.


On Twitter, Lord Voldemort is calling for calm.

[RebeccaFog]

They're rioting for freedom of consumer goods.

I hope this ends soon.

[Princess of Hearts]

This is a dreadful Tabloid thread.

[RebeccaFog]

I don't understand

[Princess of Hearts]

I was once told on a largely American website that as I wasn't an American I had absolutely no say in anything that went on there.     I was accused of being 'anti-American' for writing that the British media were boring us all silly with hours and hours and hours of in-depth coverage of the 2008 Presidential election.

[Pica Pica]

This is a dreadful Tabloid thread.

I'm sitting here writing me novel and hearing all sorts of reports and things from mates and some tweets and news - these are all places I spend time in, it feels like the world I know is being torn apart...and I have to admit, I'm gripped by the story - guessing it's not being heavily reported up your way though - PicaNews, it's confused but it's as fair as I can make it.

The fancy dress shop in Clapham, the one where I bought my (beloved) three corner hat, on fire with canisters of helium - the gangs stole masks to hide faces from CCTV, the queen just smashed a starbucks.

[Pica Pica]

(Oh, just had me reputation downed for 'Dreadful pro-Authority, pro-State comments!!' didn't know that was a crime. I'm not all that pro-state, but if I had to choose between looters and police...I'd chose the shopkeepers of Dalston).

[RebeccaFog]

News media makes too much of american politics. Even in america where the media has nothing useful to say.

Rioting is terrible anywhere it happens. It's an act of violence whether or not anyone is hurt. Rioters are the people we have to watch our backs for in any bad time.

How can you be pro-state if you just want some order?

[kate durcal]

It's particularly fun to get drunk to and sing along, cos everyone has their own version of the lyrics.

Just like Nero while Rome burned. Yes, I know it is not historically correct, but can be used to exemplify the "anarchists" who delight  and profit form this type of tragedies.

I am sorry this kind of rioting is happing in you "neck of the woods," and I hope you and  your family would stay safe. I also heard that there some home invasions were reported.

All the best,

Kate D

[Pica Pica]

Just like Nero while Rome burned. Yes, I know it is not historically correcct, but can be used to examplify the "anarchists" who delight  and profit form this type of tragedies.

Funny how the tone changes throughout the thread, from flippancy to confusion and dismay.

The news people being astonished how very different these riots are to other riots before. The way the people are being dispersed, springing up in strange and unpredicted areas, how the police and the news can't get there. I was born the year of the last riots in London.

[kate durcal]

Perhaps having a shot gun is not such a bad idea after all.

The news here (Virginia, USA) claims that the rioters are but drug dealers, thieves, pimps, and prostitutes, joined by opportunistic looters.

Stay safe man!

Kate D

[RebeccaFog]

I think it's a given that a looter is a thief.   

[Pica Pica]

Perhaps having a shot gun is not such a bad idea after all.

But they would have more guns.


Lots of stuff in Birmingham as well, there is an unmanned police station on fire, and lots of looting - again all the looting is luxury sports goods and electronics. Oddly though, one of the most emailed pictures is a man who has looted some basmati rice.

Now a big fire in Enfield (north London) at a Sony warehouse.


Portabello Road is being looted now - and a scooter set on fire. Can never walk down that road without thinking of the song from Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

[kate durcal]

Sorry, forgot to mention the best home defense weapon, a flamethrower 
Can be made with readily available materials.

In a serious note, until you face this kind of situation you do not have a clue as just how scaring they can be. I sincerely hope no harm would come you way, stay frosty

Kate D