London Riots by Morin Okenla

I had not paid attention to the protests which started in London last Sunday. All I gathered was that there was a huge number of people demonstrating in the city because a man had been shot dead by the police. The police were in the process of arresting Duggan when he was shot dead. The man was named as Mark Duggan, a local man from London's Tottenham neighbourhood. The police insisted that Mark Duggan had a gun and shot at a police officer first. But yesterday, the IPCC confirmed that Mark Duggan, a 26 year old father of four had not fired a shot at the police but the police had found a gun at the scene of the incident. The IPCC also said that the bullet which had lodged into a police officer's radio had come from another police gun and the bullet had not come from Mark Duggan. The police had fired all the shots on the afternoon of Duggan's death. 

According to an eye witness statement, “Mark Duggan was shot dead, an 'alleged' gangster, the police said he had a gun which was in a sock. He was in the back seat of a minicab. 200 protesters visited the local police office, the police refused to talk to them. Eventually, a junior police officer decided to speak to them. The protesters took offense as they had been kept waiting for almost three hours. Some elements in the protest decided it was unacceptable, burnt two police cars. Riot police were called. The protesters kept on, the trigger was when fifteen riot police officers 'rushed' a young girl of 16. After that everything went up in flames, including restraint.

People say a single human life is invaluable, spare a thought for the deceased man. The real issue, if you live in London, is the unjust treatment of the man who died and of the protesters. The media issue is that this is stealing and looting. They say this is about black people. But you should know that black people in London are in the minority. The riots took place all over England, and all over London.”

The protests spread and escalated. By 4pm on Monday most shops in London had closed and streets were empty. By 5pm children as young as twelve and youths of all races, both male and female had gathered in various parts of the city and ask dusk fell they began to break into shops breaking glass windows with metal poles. The rioters set fire to buildings, cars and rubbish bins using diesel and petrol.

The police were clearly outnumbered and even in their riot gear they could not contain the looters. Even the fire brigade crew were attacked and prevented from putting out the flames. Scores of listed buildings and businesses have been destroyed by looters and by fire across England. 

Since Sunday, four nights of rioting have raged throughout England spreading through towns such as Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton. Over 170 people have been arrested so far. The police are using CCTV images, forensic material –DNA and finger prints which are being used to catch the culprits.

Overnight, vigilantes took to the streets to protect their properties and in Birmingham as a group of Asian men stayed up all night to protect their community a car drove off the road and onto the kerb and killed three young Asian men.

Most of the people interviewed are of the opinion that the Mark Duggan's death was merely a catalyst for dissatisfaction which had been building up in England over cuts especially in children and youth services, unemployment, university fees, dis-jointed communities and inflation. 

The common view on social network threads is that neighbourhoods and communities like Tottenham aren't burned because one, single incident disturbed their tranquility. This was the straw that broke the camels back. These revolts are a result of litanies of injustices perpetrated by systems that either target a specific demographic because they are "not as pretty" or write them off as expendable for whatever reason they wish. 

And I end with this quote by Confucius

Sony distribution centre in Enfield London engulfed by flames

"To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right." – Confucius

Here are pictures of the aftermath culled from sky.com and boston.com

Residents watch as a building burns after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) 

Fire rages through a building in Tottenham on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A masked protester hurls an object toward riot police officers in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

Mounted police officers chase rioters on the streets in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A rioter throws a burning wooden plank at police in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

Riot police officers face off with protesters in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A policeman in riot gear stands guard in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A double decker bus burns as riot police try to contain a large group of people on a main road in Tottenham on August 6, 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) 

 Police officers detain a man in Enfield, north London August 7, 2011. Police said they were called to Enfield, a few miles north of Tottenham, where youths had smashed two shop windows and damaged a police car. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) 

Buildings burn in Crydon during protests on August 7, 2011. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images) 

Riot police officers escort an injured man after arresting him London on  Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A protester faces off with riot police officers on the streets in London on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

Police officers in riot gear walk past a burning building . (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) 

Buildings engulfed by fire in London

Police officers arrest a man in London (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) 

Police officers make their way on the streets in Croydon on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) 

A police officer patrols as firemen continue to dowse buildings set alight during riots in Enfield on August 7, 2011. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters) 

 A nwoman walks through the debris with two children as riot police try to contain a large group of people on a main road in Tottenham on August 6 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) 

 Poloice officers look on as many parts of London go up in flames (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) 

Police cordon off an area on August 7, 2011 during unrest in Enfield. (Karel Prinsloo/AP) 

Animals are taken from a pet store after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) 

Aaron Biber, 89, assesses the damage to his hairdressing salon after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) 

Burnt out cars lie in the road after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

A man stands next to a burnt out van after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011 . (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)