Updated OP by Meus Renaissance:
Thursday the 4th of August
18:15 BST - Mark Duggan, 29, is shot dead by [armed] police at Ferry Lane, Tottenham.
The death occurs during an operation where specialist firearm officers and officers from Operation Trident, the unit which deals with gun crime in the African and Caribbean communities, are attempting to carry out an arrest.
Mr Duggan is a passenger in a minicab and is shot after an apparent exchange of fire. A police officer's radio is later found to have a bullet lodged in it.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announces it will investigate the incident and later says it believes two shots were fired by police. It also confirms that an illegal firearm was recovered from the scene.
Saturday 6th of August
Before 17:00 - The IPCC provides support to 14 of Mr Duggan's family members and friends as they formally identify his body.
17:00 BST - Around 300 people gather outside Tottenham police station after marching from Broadwater Farm estate. They say they want "justice" for Mr Duggan and his family.
Officers are forced to close the High Road and put traffic diversions in place. Eyewitnesses report that the protest begins peacefully. Group would later complain they had waited several hours in front of the police station without being acknowledged. Members of these protestors, including Duggans family, complain of a lack of information surrounding Duggan's death and suspicion arises.
20:20 BST -The violence begins as bottles are thrown at two patrol cars close to the police station. One of the vehicles is set alight, while the other is pushed into the middle of the road before also being torched.
Unconfirmed reports say the incident was sparked off by a confrontation between a teenage girl protestor and a police officer. Video footage shows police 'handling' her with onlookers shouting at them to get off; "She's just a fucking girl"
Riot officers from the Territorial Support Group and police on horseback are deployed to disperse the crowds but come under attack from bottles, fireworks and other missiles.
20:45 BST - The London Fire Brigade receives its first calls to attend and by 04:30 BST the following morning has dealt with 49 "primary" fires in the Tottenham area and received more than 250 emergency calls from the public.
No firefighters are injured in the disturbances but some are threatened by rioters, according to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
22:45 BST - As the violence continues, a double-decker bus is burnt out and more petrol bombs are thrown at police and buildings. Shops set alight in the area include an Aldi supermarket and a carpet shop.
Looting is reported throughout the night and some thieves take the opportunity to load up car boots and shopping trolleys with stolen goods. Vision Express, Boots, Argos and JD Sports are among the shops affected.
As the "disturbance" is largely focused in Tottenham, it is presumed the looters/rioters/protestors are motivated by the 'unjust' shooting of Duggan, eroding an already tense relationship with the police amongst the predominantly black youth community.
Sunday 7th August
12:00 BST - Fire crews have all the fires under control but are still damping down some burnt-out buildings. Scenes of crime officers begin investigating and gathering evidence.
Police say 26 police officers were injured in the riots and two remain in hospital. In total, fifty-five arrests have been made.
Local MP David Lammy tells reporters the community has "had the heart ripped out of it" by "mindless, mindless people",[/B] many of whom he says had come from outside Tottenham to cause trouble.
16:20 BST - Police announce the launch of Operation Withern to investigate the riots in Tottenham.
18:28 BST - Police are called to High Street Enfield after reports shop windows are being smashed. A police vehicle is damaged, one of what would be many more vehicles set alight.
18:30 BST - Three police officers are injured after intervening in an altercation in Brixton, south London. Missiles are thrown.
19:45 BST - Around 100 hooded youths gather outside Enfield Police Station. It has spread outside Tottenham, and thus dismisses the explanation that these scenes are related to the shooting. More likely pure opportunism.
21:30 BST -The Guardian newspaper quotes a source as saying a bullet found in a police radio after Mr Duggan's death was police issue.
22:00 BST - More reports of shop windows being smashed in Enfield. Riot police and mounted police patrol the streets.
22:30 BST - Reports on Twitter of a police presence at Oxford Circus in London's West End. Police later say a mob of around 50 people damaged property in the area. Rumours of more riots and looting planned via BBM.
Monday 8th August
00:45 BST - Six fire engines and 30 firefighters are despatched to blaze at a Foot Locker store on Brixton Road, after it is set alight.
Three officers are injured after being hit by a vehicle in Chingford Mount, Waltham Forest. The officers had been making arrests after a shop was looted.
02:20 BST - Scotland Yard says police are responding to copycat criminal activity across London. In a statement it says "small and mobile groups" of looters have been have been targeting areas of north, east and south London.
Police say gangs of youths are continuing to attack officers and shops are being targeted in Waltham Forest.
In Enfield, the High Street remains cordoned off after disorder in the area was contained. The situation in Walthamstow is said to be under control after some 30 youths - many in masks - vandalised and looted shops there.
Police say a police vehicle windscreen was smashed during a disturbance in Islington and a Tesco store in Ponders End has been vandalised and looted.
02:38 BST - The London Fire Brigade says firefighters have been called to a number of fires as a direct result of disturbances in the Enfield, Brixton and Walthamstow areas. Six fire engines and 30 firefighters are fighting a blaze at a shop on Brixton road. Reports of incidents around England, in Birmingham and Liverpool amongst some of the cited areas.
06:15 BST - The Metropolitan Police say a further 100 arrests have been made and 16 people charged in relation to disturbances overnight on Sunday.
Mark Duggan profile
FAQ
Why is this happening?
As it began during the protest of the Duggan shooting, the prominent theory was that it was sparked by racial tensions in the area. Others have suggested that the poor academic record, as well as having one of highest unemployment figures in the capital, that there are underlying socio-economic reasons as to why these youths are causing trouble. The largely ineffective police response has spurred on copycat looters throughout the country to take advantage of the situation and cause damage to town centres and rob stores.
Why are the police unable to cope?
The movement of these thugs and looters is sporadic and unpredictable. In addition, the police and emergency crews are stretched out with pockets of 'incidents' in isolated parts of the city popping up. When they arrive at the scene, it's often too late or the youths simply run away too fast.
Do the police have firearms, water-cannons?
No. The police in the country do not carry firearms nor have access to them. Only limited special groups within the police force do, but they are only used in response to other firearms being used. Water cannons are not available on the mainland, but even if they were there are questions of how effective they would be; these are not crowds standing up to a police wall, but more akin to rats with their movement - they simply run at the first sight of police getting too close.
What is going to happen now?
No one knows. The authorities do not have control. Military intervention seems very unlikely at this point[/QUOTE]
Thursday the 4th of August
18:15 BST - Mark Duggan, 29, is shot dead by [armed] police at Ferry Lane, Tottenham.
The death occurs during an operation where specialist firearm officers and officers from Operation Trident, the unit which deals with gun crime in the African and Caribbean communities, are attempting to carry out an arrest.
Mr Duggan is a passenger in a minicab and is shot after an apparent exchange of fire. A police officer's radio is later found to have a bullet lodged in it.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announces it will investigate the incident and later says it believes two shots were fired by police. It also confirms that an illegal firearm was recovered from the scene.
Saturday 6th of August
Before 17:00 - The IPCC provides support to 14 of Mr Duggan's family members and friends as they formally identify his body.
17:00 BST - Around 300 people gather outside Tottenham police station after marching from Broadwater Farm estate. They say they want "justice" for Mr Duggan and his family.
Officers are forced to close the High Road and put traffic diversions in place. Eyewitnesses report that the protest begins peacefully. Group would later complain they had waited several hours in front of the police station without being acknowledged. Members of these protestors, including Duggans family, complain of a lack of information surrounding Duggan's death and suspicion arises.
20:20 BST -The violence begins as bottles are thrown at two patrol cars close to the police station. One of the vehicles is set alight, while the other is pushed into the middle of the road before also being torched.
Unconfirmed reports say the incident was sparked off by a confrontation between a teenage girl protestor and a police officer. Video footage shows police 'handling' her with onlookers shouting at them to get off; "She's just a fucking girl"
Riot officers from the Territorial Support Group and police on horseback are deployed to disperse the crowds but come under attack from bottles, fireworks and other missiles.
20:45 BST - The London Fire Brigade receives its first calls to attend and by 04:30 BST the following morning has dealt with 49 "primary" fires in the Tottenham area and received more than 250 emergency calls from the public.
No firefighters are injured in the disturbances but some are threatened by rioters, according to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
22:45 BST - As the violence continues, a double-decker bus is burnt out and more petrol bombs are thrown at police and buildings. Shops set alight in the area include an Aldi supermarket and a carpet shop.
Looting is reported throughout the night and some thieves take the opportunity to load up car boots and shopping trolleys with stolen goods. Vision Express, Boots, Argos and JD Sports are among the shops affected.
As the "disturbance" is largely focused in Tottenham, it is presumed the looters/rioters/protestors are motivated by the 'unjust' shooting of Duggan, eroding an already tense relationship with the police amongst the predominantly black youth community.
Sunday 7th August
12:00 BST - Fire crews have all the fires under control but are still damping down some burnt-out buildings. Scenes of crime officers begin investigating and gathering evidence.
Police say 26 police officers were injured in the riots and two remain in hospital. In total, fifty-five arrests have been made.
Local MP David Lammy tells reporters the community has "had the heart ripped out of it" by "mindless, mindless people",[/B] many of whom he says had come from outside Tottenham to cause trouble.
16:20 BST - Police announce the launch of Operation Withern to investigate the riots in Tottenham.
18:28 BST - Police are called to High Street Enfield after reports shop windows are being smashed. A police vehicle is damaged, one of what would be many more vehicles set alight.
18:30 BST - Three police officers are injured after intervening in an altercation in Brixton, south London. Missiles are thrown.
19:45 BST - Around 100 hooded youths gather outside Enfield Police Station. It has spread outside Tottenham, and thus dismisses the explanation that these scenes are related to the shooting. More likely pure opportunism.
21:30 BST -The Guardian newspaper quotes a source as saying a bullet found in a police radio after Mr Duggan's death was police issue.
22:00 BST - More reports of shop windows being smashed in Enfield. Riot police and mounted police patrol the streets.
22:30 BST - Reports on Twitter of a police presence at Oxford Circus in London's West End. Police later say a mob of around 50 people damaged property in the area. Rumours of more riots and looting planned via BBM.
Monday 8th August
00:45 BST - Six fire engines and 30 firefighters are despatched to blaze at a Foot Locker store on Brixton Road, after it is set alight.
Three officers are injured after being hit by a vehicle in Chingford Mount, Waltham Forest. The officers had been making arrests after a shop was looted.
02:20 BST - Scotland Yard says police are responding to copycat criminal activity across London. In a statement it says "small and mobile groups" of looters have been have been targeting areas of north, east and south London.
Police say gangs of youths are continuing to attack officers and shops are being targeted in Waltham Forest.
In Enfield, the High Street remains cordoned off after disorder in the area was contained. The situation in Walthamstow is said to be under control after some 30 youths - many in masks - vandalised and looted shops there.
Police say a police vehicle windscreen was smashed during a disturbance in Islington and a Tesco store in Ponders End has been vandalised and looted.
02:38 BST - The London Fire Brigade says firefighters have been called to a number of fires as a direct result of disturbances in the Enfield, Brixton and Walthamstow areas. Six fire engines and 30 firefighters are fighting a blaze at a shop on Brixton road. Reports of incidents around England, in Birmingham and Liverpool amongst some of the cited areas.
06:15 BST - The Metropolitan Police say a further 100 arrests have been made and 16 people charged in relation to disturbances overnight on Sunday.
Mark Duggan profile
Hardened north London gangster and drug dealer, or loving family man who would never seek confrontation? Two different portraits were painted of Mark Duggan, the 29-year-old Tottenham man whose death sparked the weekend's London riots. Close family members, gathered in their garden in Tottenham amid a pile of bouquets left in memory of the dead 29-year-old, refused to speak to journalists, blaming the media for "twisting the truth" and telling "all these lies" about Duggan. "He was a good man. He was a family man," one relative told The Guardian. Duggan's fiancee, Semone Wilson, has admitted Duggan was known to the police and said he had spent some time on remand, but denied he was ever imprisoned. Mark, whom she had known for 12 years, was "a good Dad" who "idolised his kids", she said. The couple were hoping to marry soon and move out of Tottenham to "start a new life together" with their three children, Kemani, aged ten, Kajaun, seven, and 18-month-old Kahliya. A fourth child, a daughter, was stillborn.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Wilson said her partner was not a gangster and would run from trouble rather than shoot at police. "If he did have a gun which I don't know Mark would run. Mark is a runner. He would run rather than firing and that's coming from the bottom of my heart," she said. "They are portraying Mark as a gangster. Mark is not a gangster. He's not known to any gangsters or any gangs. He's not like that." A relative, Shaun Hall, told reporters it was "utter rubbish" that Duggan would ever dream of opening fire on policemen: "My brother's not that sort of person," he said. "He's not stupid to shoot at the police, that's ridiculous."
But Duggan's Facebook page, under his alias Starrish Mark, pictures him in a T-shirt bearing the words Star Gang, and reports suggest he may have had links to that group and allied north London gangs such as the Broadwater Farm Posse and Tottenham Mandem. The Voice, Britain's leading black newspaper, has claimed that both Duggan and his best friend, 23-year-old rapper Kelvin Easton, known as Smegz, "had links to the Star Gang", one of several criminal groups in north London whose turf wars have caused at least three deaths over the past few years. Easton, described by the londonstreetgangs website as an "elder" of a group collectively called the Farm Mandem, was stabbed to death with a broken champagne bottle at the Boheme nightclub in Mile End, east London, in March 2011. The murder remains unsolved.
Duggan was born on September 15 1981 and attended St David's and St Katherine's, now Greig City Academy, in Hornsey. At the time of his death last Thursday he was under investigation by officers from Trident, the Metropolitan police unit responsible for gun crime within the black community. Duggan's Facebook page carries more than a dozen photographs of him and a large number of messages left by friends. Several shots show him in gangster poses; in others he is dressed all in black, or shown gesturing from behind the wheel of a yellow sportscar with headlights blazing. Beneath that photo Duggan posted the message: "I aint even countin money no more, if it aint right it jus aint right, it does'nt even matter 2 me no more." Other unconfirmed reports have alleged he was a known drugs dealer. Some of the messages posted by friends on his Facebook pages could suggest possible gang involvement, referring to Duggan variously as a "soldier", a "true star boy" and a "five star general". One of the messages left among the bouquets outside Duggan's family home yesterday referred to "Gang N17 Farm", the name of one of the Star gang's allies.
But others appear full of love, and sorrow. "I love you like cooked food," reads one comment; "1 thing they can't take is da love I have 4 u two" says another, beneath a picture of Duggan and Easton. "R.I.P. da bruddas gone but not forgotten," is a common remark, as well as "cant believe this" and "my heart goes out 2 ur wife&kids n the rest of ur family." On another memorial website, Easton's mother Julie who was godmother to Duggan left this message: "Mark sweetheart i know that you are in safe hands now. Kelvin please tell Mark 2 always shine down on [his mother and brothers], semone and the kids, just like u do for me. im gonna try my very best Kelvin 2 look after them all ... but my god this is so hard. 1st they take my son away from me and now they have taken my god son who is also my sons best friend. r.i.p Mark darling may god bless u and Kelvin and keep u both safe. now ive lost 2 sons. please no more i beg u r.i.p my sons."
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Wilson said her partner was not a gangster and would run from trouble rather than shoot at police. "If he did have a gun which I don't know Mark would run. Mark is a runner. He would run rather than firing and that's coming from the bottom of my heart," she said. "They are portraying Mark as a gangster. Mark is not a gangster. He's not known to any gangsters or any gangs. He's not like that." A relative, Shaun Hall, told reporters it was "utter rubbish" that Duggan would ever dream of opening fire on policemen: "My brother's not that sort of person," he said. "He's not stupid to shoot at the police, that's ridiculous."
But Duggan's Facebook page, under his alias Starrish Mark, pictures him in a T-shirt bearing the words Star Gang, and reports suggest he may have had links to that group and allied north London gangs such as the Broadwater Farm Posse and Tottenham Mandem. The Voice, Britain's leading black newspaper, has claimed that both Duggan and his best friend, 23-year-old rapper Kelvin Easton, known as Smegz, "had links to the Star Gang", one of several criminal groups in north London whose turf wars have caused at least three deaths over the past few years. Easton, described by the londonstreetgangs website as an "elder" of a group collectively called the Farm Mandem, was stabbed to death with a broken champagne bottle at the Boheme nightclub in Mile End, east London, in March 2011. The murder remains unsolved.
Duggan was born on September 15 1981 and attended St David's and St Katherine's, now Greig City Academy, in Hornsey. At the time of his death last Thursday he was under investigation by officers from Trident, the Metropolitan police unit responsible for gun crime within the black community. Duggan's Facebook page carries more than a dozen photographs of him and a large number of messages left by friends. Several shots show him in gangster poses; in others he is dressed all in black, or shown gesturing from behind the wheel of a yellow sportscar with headlights blazing. Beneath that photo Duggan posted the message: "I aint even countin money no more, if it aint right it jus aint right, it does'nt even matter 2 me no more." Other unconfirmed reports have alleged he was a known drugs dealer. Some of the messages posted by friends on his Facebook pages could suggest possible gang involvement, referring to Duggan variously as a "soldier", a "true star boy" and a "five star general". One of the messages left among the bouquets outside Duggan's family home yesterday referred to "Gang N17 Farm", the name of one of the Star gang's allies.
But others appear full of love, and sorrow. "I love you like cooked food," reads one comment; "1 thing they can't take is da love I have 4 u two" says another, beneath a picture of Duggan and Easton. "R.I.P. da bruddas gone but not forgotten," is a common remark, as well as "cant believe this" and "my heart goes out 2 ur wife&kids n the rest of ur family." On another memorial website, Easton's mother Julie who was godmother to Duggan left this message: "Mark sweetheart i know that you are in safe hands now. Kelvin please tell Mark 2 always shine down on [his mother and brothers], semone and the kids, just like u do for me. im gonna try my very best Kelvin 2 look after them all ... but my god this is so hard. 1st they take my son away from me and now they have taken my god son who is also my sons best friend. r.i.p Mark darling may god bless u and Kelvin and keep u both safe. now ive lost 2 sons. please no more i beg u r.i.p my sons."
- At least 450 people arrested
- The Police have been utterly overwhelmed in both numbers and response times
- People attacked, their homes broken into and set alight and at least two confirmed shootings - one in the face, including one reported attempted murder of a police officer. This video footage highlights the difficulty they have.
- Although predominately teenagers, young children and grown adults have been seen joining in
- 6000 officers were present, but only 1400 were trained and equipped as riot police. Prime Minister Dave 'call me Dave' Cameron has cancelled police leave in the city and plans to put 16,000 officers on the street - sparking criticism and doubt as to whether they can cope. Public anger seems to be growing, with calls of military intervention being one of the favoured approaches.
- More riots and looting is rumoured to be planned.
FAQ
Why is this happening?
As it began during the protest of the Duggan shooting, the prominent theory was that it was sparked by racial tensions in the area. Others have suggested that the poor academic record, as well as having one of highest unemployment figures in the capital, that there are underlying socio-economic reasons as to why these youths are causing trouble. The largely ineffective police response has spurred on copycat looters throughout the country to take advantage of the situation and cause damage to town centres and rob stores.
Why are the police unable to cope?
The movement of these thugs and looters is sporadic and unpredictable. In addition, the police and emergency crews are stretched out with pockets of 'incidents' in isolated parts of the city popping up. When they arrive at the scene, it's often too late or the youths simply run away too fast.
Do the police have firearms, water-cannons?
No. The police in the country do not carry firearms nor have access to them. Only limited special groups within the police force do, but they are only used in response to other firearms being used. Water cannons are not available on the mainland, but even if they were there are questions of how effective they would be; these are not crowds standing up to a police wall, but more akin to rats with their movement - they simply run at the first sight of police getting too close.
What is going to happen now?
No one knows. The authorities do not have control. Military intervention seems very unlikely at this point[/QUOTE]
