The rioting sparked by the death of an Afro-Caribbean youth in police shooting spread across London late on Sunday in what the police called “copycat criminal activity” as groups of youngsters, mostly teenagers, went on a rampage attacking and looting shops.
The affected areas, mostly in north and south-east London, are regarded as racially sensitive with a large unemployed population of African and Caribbean origin.
Tottenham, the north London suburb where it all started at the weekend after a peaceful protest over 29-year-old Mark Duggan's death turned violent, has a history of racial tensions and poor community-police relations.
Police were on Monday under intense pressure to explain the exact circumstances of how Mr. Duggan, a father of four, was killed after doubts emerged about the original version. He was shot when, last Thursday, the police stopped a mini cab in which he was travelling and attempted to arrest him in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Claims that police fired in self-defence after firing from inside the cab have been questioned following media reports that both the bullets found at the scene had police markings.
More than 100 people have been arrested in connection with the disturbances amid widespread condemnation of those behind it as also of police handling of the situation.
