Hackney Riots
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David Cameron is returning to the UK as a fresh wave of riots and fires hit London, from the east to the south, with unrest also beginning to take hold in other parts of the country.

Prime Minister David Cameron is coming home to deal with the wave of unrest gripping London and threatening to spread around the UK. He will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra on Tuesday.

Metropolitan Police Acting Commisioner Tim Goodwin has urged the public to stay off London's streets. He also called on parents to contact their children.

Police are tackling fresh violence as the riots spread into new areas and outside the capital for the first time, with trouble also "brewing" in Birmingham and reports of trouble in Leeds.

Buildings and vehicles have been set on fire in south London; in Lewisham, Deptford, Peckham and Croydon. There have been street clashes in Hackney in east London with youths attacking police vehicles with sticks. Shops across the city are being looted.

Home Secretary Theresa May said earlier that at least 215 people have been arrested and 25 people charged so far in the disturbances. She also returned from her summer holiday to deal with the crisis.

In Birmingham, an eyewitness has told Channel 4 News the Bullring shopping centre closed early as angry young men came out onto the streets.

Omar Siddique said: "There must have been 20 police vans and 100 uniformed officers on Corporation Street in the city centre.

"Whole herds of youths were running up and down, but I didn't see anybody throwing missiles."


Following emergency talks with the Met Police Acting Commisioner Tim Goodwin and other officer she called the unrest "sheer criminality" and added that "these people will be brought justice".

More from Channel 4 News: London riots video timeline

A vigil has taken place for Mark Duggan in Tottenham this evening. The 29-year-old's death on Thursday 4 August sparked the first clashes on Saturday, which left Tottenham High Road devastated. Mr Duggan was shot dead by police in a planned operation.

Mark Duggan's partner: first interview

In an exclusive interview with Channel 4 News Mr Duggan's partner Semone Wilson said she believed there had been a "cover up" over the shooting.

She added: "There was a rumour that police had shot him and I also heard that Mark had shot the officer - it was all part of the same rumour.

"I know Mark - Mark's not going to do that - 100 per cent, 100 per cent.

"Mark is kind of person if he did have a gun - which I don't know - Mark is a runner, he would run rather than firing and that's coming from the bottom of my heart.

"They portray Mark as a gangster but he's not known to any gangsters or gangs - don't get me wrong he's well known, very popular but he's not a gangster he's a loving caring guy.

"He loves his kids, all of his kids and his family and he would do anything for them but a gangster - that's not him."


The Metropolitan Police described the latest disturbances elsewhere in London as "copycat criminal activity". Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was "needless opportunistic theft and violence" which he said had "absolutely nothing to do with the death of Mark Duggan."

Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor for policing, said it was perpetrated by a small group of people "looking for stuff to nick". More than 100 people were arrested overnight.

The return of David Cameron and Theresa May to the country follows criticism over the absence of senior politicians and police leaders during the summer.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson will also interrupting his holiday to deal with the situation. His spokesman said: "He will be back in London tomorrow lunchtime."

The Metropolitan Police borough commander for Tottenham Chief Superintendent Sandra Looby is also coming back after reportedly flying to Florida just hours before the riots broke out.

Twitter warning

Twitter users could face arrest for inciting violence following two days of riots across London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh confirmed officers were looking at tweets as part of investigations into widespread looting and rioting.

Some messages posted on Twitter surrounding the riots had been "really inflammatory, inaccurate", Mr Kavanagh added.

When asked by reporters whether officers would consider arresting tweeters in relation to incitement to violence, Mr Kavanagh said "absolutely".

He later added: "That investigation is already under way and that is exactly the sort of thing we are looking at."

Meanwhile, mobile phone firm BlackBerry is due to release a statement following claims the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service has been used as a key communicating tool by rioters. The technology is more difficult to track than open social networks like Facebook and Twitter.