As the world continues to watch London burn, we need to understand why rioters and looters are going H.A.M. on the streets of England.
STORY: London Is On Fire! Arson, Riots And Looting (PHOTOS)
Why has this episode escalated to a free for all of looting and rioting?
It all started when British Metropolitan police attempted to arrest 29-year-old Mark Duggan, a resident of Tottenham.
It is being reported that he allegeldy resisted arrest and allegedly opened fire on the officers, prompting them to kill Mark and sparking a series of riots over the north London neighborhood.
STORY: The Aftermath Of London Riot War Zone (PHOTOS)
This may be the specific event that triggered what we are currently seeing, but the mass rioting over the past four days tells another story.
So read on to find out the 411 on the London riots from the beginning to the present and keep up to date on the latest.
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British Metropolitan police killed 29-year-old Mark Duggan a resident of Tottenham, England. Mark allegedly resisted arrest and allegedly opened fire on the officers, prompting them to shoot Mark sparking a series of riots over the north London neighborhood.
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After the killing of Mark Duggan, Saturday night’s riots resulted in 26 police officers being injured and 48 people being arrested. Shops looted include Blockbusters, a local electronics store, Vision Express, Big Green Bookshop and JD Sports. The post office was also set on fire.
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Riots start to spread. Copy cat riots are replicated in areas across the capital. Affected areas include Brixton, Enfield, Walthamstow, Islington, Waltham Forest and Oxford Circusand Ponders End.
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On the second night of rioting across the capital, 100 people were arrested.
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Here’s how London breaks down according to their 2007 Cenus.
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Brixton explodes! Large groups of teenage youth start throwing bottles at police and all begin to wear scarfs covering their faces.
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Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver tweets that his restaurant was vandalized.
“Sadly my restaurant in Birmingham got smashed up windows all gone whole area closed, cant open, staff and customers all safe!!thankfully jox” @jamieoliver
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Prime Minister David Cameron returns from vacation and praises the bravery of the police and insist that “that we need much more police and even more robust action.”
He confirms that 16,000 police will be on the streets and sends a message to the riots;
“You will feel the full force of the law and if you are old enough to commit these crimes you are old enough to face the punishment. You’re not only ruining the lives of others and ruining your own communities you are potentially ruining your own lives, too.”
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Police are prepared to use plastic bullets if the violence continues on the fourth day of rioting. In the United Kingdom, the majority of police officers do not carry firearms, except in special circumstances. The continuing rioting in the streets exempts this currently rule as of now.
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Tottenham Member of Parliment David Lammy calls on BlackBerry to suspend messaging service in an attempt to stop rioters from communicating.
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Over 525 people have been arrested since the start of the riots in London.
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A 26-year-old man shot in a car during riots in Croydon has since died in the hospital.
