What's Fueling the London Riots ?

There has been looting in a number of boroughs in north, east and south London by small and mobile groups. Groups of youths continue to attack police officers and a number of police vehicles have been damaged. Three officers have been taken to hospital after being hit by a fast moving vehicle at approx 00:45hrs. The officers were in the process of making arrests in Chingford Mount, Waltham Forest, in connection with youths looting a shop. Two officers are believed to have superficial injuries and the other has an injury to his knee. Earlier tonight in Walthamstow Central more than 30 youths, many in masks, vandalised and looted a number shops including BHS. Officers attended the area and the situation is currently under control. Groups of youths are continuing to target shops in Waltham Forest and officers are on scene. In Brixton there has been disorder and looting. LFB are dealing with a fire at Footlocker on Brixton High Road.

London riots are being blamed on economic malaise

Those looking to explain the unexpected riots that broke out in the northern London neighborhood of Tottenham on Saturday over the shooting death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan have zeroed in on an all-too-familiar culprit: the global economic downtown. Like other working class neighborhoods in England, Tottenham has been hit hard by cuts in social services, which were implemented as part of the British government’s austerity plan, and the unemployment rate among local youth is high. Said one resident: “This will happen again. These kids don’t care. They don’t have to pay for this damage, we do. Working people do. What do they have to lose?” The storm has been brewing for a while: