42 replies to this topic

[Snakeye]

Hey you Britishers...What in the world is going on in London? Looks like the US civil rights riots in the 1960s.....

[davjed]

Sorta like the "Blitz" from within.....
Blitz

[T11WALKER]

"can't we all get along?" Rodney King

I was deployed for 3 weeks with the National Guard during the L.A riots, it was crazy!!! I feel bad for the business owners and the cop's over there! The world is going to shit!!!

Steve

[Tetracyclone]

Condolences and concern to all our members in the UK.

[Trinity]

What indeed IS going on in London?! What started as a peaceful demonstration about a guy who got shot by police quickly turned into violent protests, three nights of rioting and things have really taken hold and violence has spread outside of London to other major UK cities. Mindless violence, looting, fires etc. Some of the poorest areas of London have been hit, London has several areas of extreme poverty and deprivation and it seems to be these areas which have been hit hardest.

There are going to be 16,000 police on the streets tonight, certainly round where I live the whole public transport network is shutting down and there is a large police presence. Shops are all boarded up in preparation of further violence, shopping centres were closed and the streets were eerily quiet as I came home from work, many people were sent home from work early.

Fingers crossed tonight will be calmer

[rollingtrouble]

As I said in another post, my heart goes out to the Britsh people. This behavior is becoming commonplace in this day and time. It is being done by thugs and malcontents that use any excuse to act out. Its just totally stupid and outrageous.

[ClaraTaylor]

These are not people "rioting" for an unjust cause or feeling of unrest. These are people going out on to the streets to cause trouble "just because they can". They don't care for politics or changing the world - they want the thrills and to have everything handed to them on a plate. They are looters, thugs, the idiots of the world who care for no one but themselves.

[greybeard]

Quote from London's Metropolitan Police web site this evening:

18.46hrs on Tuesday 9 August

The serious criminal unrest experienced in London over the past three days has left dozens of officers injured, some seriously.

As of 17.30hrs today, 111 officers have been reported injured after having experienced unprecedented violence directed at them as they have been policing London, striving to protect the public, local communities and property.

Many officers are still undergoing hospital treatment, some requiring surgery. Injuries range from fractured bones, serious head injuries, concussion, cuts and sprains, even injured eyes from smashed and thrown glass.

Officers have been attacked with bricks, bottles, planks of wood and other missiles. In some incidents, officers have been hit by motor vehicles, seriously risking their lives and those of the public.

Five police dogs have been injured as they have undertaken their duties in dealing with the unrest. Linpol Luke, also known as Obi, sustained a serious head injury from a thrown brick and requires further treatment. Marshfield Mia was injured after being hit by a thrown bottle. Both dogs were injured on duty on Sunday. On Monday, Minstrel Blaze, Quirk Ruby and Zach all sustained injuries, including broken teeth and cuts from thrown missiles.

Mounted section officers have played a vital role and after successive shifts facing hostile crowds the officers and their horses are tired yet no injuries have been sustained and they will continue to play their part in keeping London safe.

[Soryfam]

I am so sorry this is happening. I hope it comes under control quickly, and the thugs are prosecuted. It's all so senseless. My thoughts go out to all of you in England.

Please stay safe.

Sandy

Edited by Soryfam, 10 August 2011 - 12:11 AM.

[Smileyblue]

Please be safe..

[rue2you]

Prayers tonight going out to all of you and the policeman who are risking their lives for peace.

[wheeliebear75]

Rioters are making things WORSE on several levels; when a "protest" turns into "a riot" then police & politicians use THAT as "just cause" for breaking up ALL PROTESTS including those which are warranted & remain peaceful, for every officer injured (human,K9, or horse) the police will then retaliate with FORCE against EVERYONE...they won't stop to figure out which one of those 25 people through the glass bottle....their fellow officers will just go bash in the heads of 24 innocent people + 1 jack-ass who decided to throw it in the 1st place!

I watched a 45min video from the 2010 G20 Toronto summit protests on youtube. I can't find it now (Big brother has taken stuff off before like "FEMA camps, on Conspiracy Theory with Jessie Ventura" I'm sure they've done it before and since) but in that video that I did see; a number of PEACEFUL protesters being arrested....thing is that I saw people in ALL BLACK throwing objects & starting fires, but then I see a group of these black clothed people who had just been videoed causing this trouble (there was a carrot top in that video wearing all black they're pretty hard to miss....could've been THE Carrot Top's cousin or something) go running into a group of POLICE who let them into their ranks, these black clothed individuals then striped themselves of their black clothes in the park. I also saw a guy in a wheelchair who went by the name of "Jr" who's rims had dings in them from the police's billy clubs. SO at least for the G20 convention; the politicians who were at this secretive meeting didn't want ANY PROTESTS, & would rather their whereabouts be a total secret.

The people in London may have started off PO'd (like in L.A. April 1992) about the treatment of people by police. But then it went from justified anger to looting & stupidity. Whether it be London or L.A. or Toronto; (protests + riots= marshal law & police states & us vs. them, where the police no longer concern themselves with protecting the public but rather arresting as many as they can + they tend to take their frustrations out on the person being arrested) (Protests - the riots = we still retain the rites to "gather in peaceful protest", & that we still have a VOICE even if we have to scream it from the streets)

I do hope things settle down there. Eventually even in L.A. the idiots ran out of room in their apartments to take anymore stuff.

[Terrible Texan]

It doesnt matter where u live, seems we're having a global collapse, if it isnt riots in London, there's famine, homelessness, the economy in USA, we're going bankrupt, the afghan war, etc... only thing left to do is to Pray to God & hope he hears us.

[Tetracyclone]

There is a fire of violence sweeping many countries. It behaves like a natural conflagration and it may be the Syrian government has the right approach. Boy, that statement will be unpopular.

I see the British riots as an excess of youthful energy and testosterone in a western social environment where young people are left to develop their own social structures. Not healthy, as it can only be something quite primitive.

Now, about those photos that Trinity posted. Trinity, why were you out there taking pictures? Being Second in Charge does not give you the right to charge out into the street and egg on young fools just for fun. Your rule of the street is destructive and we want you to get your chair back inside for a long time-out. Into the corner you go, and don't come out until this mess is done with!!!!

Edited by Tetracyclone, 10 August 2011 - 01:16 PM.

[bongorum]

They should put those rioting, opportunistic animals down hard and fast. Every shop or business place that gets burnt by them means that the innocent people who once worked there are out of a livlihood and that their children and other dependants must go without. What's Cameron waiting on, a sign from heaven? He should declare a state of emergency right this minute, impose a curfew and let the police shoot on sight anyone or anything violating it. At any rate, I read today that they're firebombing police stations now. I can't wait to see what's next?

Edited by bongorum, 11 August 2011 - 03:12 PM.

[sherbs]

ClaraTaylor, on 09 August 2011 - 08:39 PM, said:

These are not people "rioting" for an unjust cause or feeling of unrest. These are people going out on to the streets to cause trouble "just because they can". They don't care for politics or changing the world - they want the thrills and to have everything handed to them on a plate. They are looters, thugs, the idiots of the world who care for no one but themselves.

Well said Clara

Exactly what i think, just mindless thugs,

And where are the parents!!, if my son appeared on my doorstep with a 50" plasma TV, i would march him straight down to the local Police Station.

Trinity, on 09 August 2011 - 08:29 PM, said:

What indeed IS going on in London?! What started as a peaceful demonstration about a guy who got shot by police quickly turned into violent protests, three nights of rioting and things have really taken hold and violence has spread outside of London to other major UK cities. Mindless violence, looting, fires etc. Some of the poorest areas of London have been hit, London has several areas of extreme poverty and deprivation and it seems to be these areas which have been hit hardest.

There are going to be 16,000 police on the streets tonight, certainly round where I live the whole public transport network is shutting down and there is a large police presence. Shops are all boarded up in preparation of further violence, shopping centres were closed and the streets were eerily quiet as I came home from work, many people were sent home from work early.

Fingers crossed tonight will be calmer
fire.jpg jump-riot-arma-4_1967454i.jpg

Stay safe Trinity, thinking of you x

[Ches]

This shit is ridiculous.. You Londoner's ought to report here and let us know your all ok, until its over with.. Thanks.

[Terrible Texan]

Can i report here too & say i'm alright?

[greybeard]

Terrible Texan, on 11 August 2011 - 01:39 AM, said:

Can i report here too & say i'm alright?

Well, are you?

[Terrible Texan]

I guess I am.............lol . At least i'm working on it

[greybeard]

Ches, on 11 August 2011 - 01:21 AM, said:

This shit is ridiculous.. You Londoner's ought to report here and let us know your all ok, until its over with.. Thanks.

Hi Ches. I'm not in London, but the media reports are that London has been trouble free for the past two nights. Some problems with gangs looting in a few other cities, but very little reported tonight so far ( It's now 02:48).

Thanks to all you folks for your concern. It is appreciated.


ADDED: As a footnote, there has been an interesting backlash to the looting. There is a very fast growing petition to require the parliament to vote to withdraw all government financial benefits and allowances from convicted looters (about 1000 have already been arrested - every police cell in London was full at one stage).
You can read the story here, but I'm afraid you have to be a UK resident to vote .
http://www.bbc.co.uk...litics-14474429

Edited by greybeard, 11 August 2011 - 02:02 AM.

[StillFingers]

Wish you all in the UK my best, stay safe; peaceful days and nights will follow the insanity.

Such mindlessness has been felt/seen here in socal more than a few times, gangs are rampant, as is random violence. It's ugly...sad...guided by those that know nothing but rage as an expression of environment, circumstance, self...unable to comprehend bettering their purpose in this world, they choose to destroy without reservation or thought of consequence.

The world is on fire...humanity seems to be losing its grip...is this our earth's future. I don't know, can't find my crystal ball. When did discovering a path less traveled, exploring our potential, slip so far down the page.

Rice for the hungry...possibly your next door neighbor...f*@k that, gotta have my new iPhone/Droid; or I'll die!

Edited by StillFingers, 11 August 2011 - 03:20 AM.

[ClaraTaylor]

I've voted,

But then I made sure that at least one of the fire engines was fully loaded with water and petrol should the trouble make it's way over here. The police may have seemed reluctant to use water cannons but I'm certainly not. At luck would have it the local farmers have loaded up their muck spreaders so we suggested they go in first and I'll hose down the streets afterwards.
Problem? What problem?

It is terribly snobbish but when you hear of them raiding pound stretcher and leaving the book stores untouched you realise there still is very much a "lower class" to this world. Is that what they're trying to hurt us with? Nothing but the reinforcement of ignorance on their behalf? Idiots.

[HiltonP]

It has been fascinating watching from afar during the past couple of months as the BBC and Sky TV have actively publicised the so-called "Arab Spring" uprisings in the middle east and north Africa. They have promoted these uprisings at every opportunity, and dramatised the involvement of social media technology in their instigation and organisation. Now it is all come back to bite them on the bum and it doesn't look so exciting anymore.

Yes, the Arab uprisings are supposedly political, whereas these UK uprisings of the work of criminals. But at their core they are the same, namely the encouragement of public disorder. Governments, authorities, and the media need to understand that when you start something it may not necessarily pan out the way you intended.

It was really interesting listening to an interview by Louise Doucet on BBC World this weekend where she spoke to a local community worker in London. What really caught her off guard was the comment from the woman that the London riots "had been a long time coming". Her comment was that to dismiss these riots as being purely the work of criminals and delinquent youth would be to miss the root cause of a potentially greater problem.

Equally disturbing have been newspaper articles describing the levels of poverty in some of London's suburbs. We tend to think of London, and the UK in general, purely in first world terms, but increasingly they are areas and communities which are exhibiting Third World tendencies.

Here in SA we to are sitting on something of a social time bomb, an ever increasing population of youths with no education and little prospect for work. They are ripe for the picking by unscrupulous people and organisations, something which is disturbing to law-abiding and taxpaying citizens.

Edited by HiltonP, 11 August 2011 - 04:09 PM.

[Tinbasher]

Given that if these had been in Glasgow or Edinburgh they would have been dubbed "SCOTTISH RIOTS" by the UK press can I stress that these are ENGLISH RIOTS not British ones.

[Trinity]

lol Tin, ok they are the "English Riots" If they had been in Glasgow or Edinburgh they would have been called "Saturday Night"

All seems to have gone quiet in London thankfully, the courts have been open 24 hours a day prosecuting those already in the system and police are raiding the homes of suspects ensuring that justice is served.

In London 40% of children live in poverty, the recession and the level of unemployment means that tensions have been rising for sometime. Not that this is in ANY way an excuse for the mindless acts of violence and vandalism. London has always had a huge rich poor divide, it's just never been at the forefront of international media before, the tourist areas of London suffered very little trouble comparatively.

[Smileyblue]

Poverty, recession, unemployment, all those things might excuse someone from becoming desperate enough to steal food, not any of the other things! I have NEVER faulted someone for being hungry enough to steal food! But this is ridiculous!

I'm only an outsider looking in though, so who am I to judge..

[Tinbasher]

Trinity, on 11 August 2011 - 11:45 AM, said:

If they had been in Glasgow or Edinburgh they would have been called "Saturday Night"

Touche Trin

[Edinburgh Colin]

Tinbasher, on 11 August 2011 - 12:43 PM, said:

Trinity, on 11 August 2011 - 11:45 AM, said:

If they had been in Glasgow or Edinburgh they would have been called "Saturday Night"

Touche Trin

Ouch ! Trinny that hurts me right to my core!

[Solidus]

Unfortunately and unusually, the weather was pretty nice over the days of rioting. I'm almost sure that if it had been raining, as is most often the case when I want a picnic, then these mis-fits wouldn't have been bothered to get off their fat butt-tocks.
Some of the interviews I've heard with these guys, (BBC Radio 4 listener here), have left me screaming at my radio. They just don't seem to have a clue about how the world goes round at all. They seem to think that some guy slaving away at a corner shop is part of the "problem, man", he is "rich, man". They just don't get it that without him they would have to walk another mile for their daily six-pack. I notice they didn't burn down the Job Centres - they will need to sign-on sometime this week or next. Blood boiling here.