It’s been 13 years since the London riots, which swept across the capital and other parts of England over five days in August 2011.
More than two thousand arrests were made as a result of the riots, which also left five people dead and hundreds of families homeless, as unrest, looting and property damage devastated parts of the city.
Some have made comparisons with the violence seen on the streets of English cities in recent days, though the circ*mstances and motivations are very different.
The 2011 riots began following the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, who had been shot by police in Tottenham on August 4 of that year.
Follow Metro.co.uk’s live blog for updates from the UK riots
While a protest against his death had begun peacefully, violence later erupted in the area, and over the course of several days it spiralled out of control.
Here’s how it all unfolded…
What caused the 2011 London riots?
The London riots began two days after the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan, who was shot by police in Tottenham on Thursday August 4 and later died of his injuries.
The father-of-six (the youngest of whom was born after he died) was shot by armed officers who had intercepted the minicab he was travelling in. The police had received information that Duggan was a gang member and had collected a gun.
On August 6, a peaceful protest was organised by friends and relatives of Duggan. After marching to the doorstep of Tottenham Police Station, protestors were leftdissatisfied with the seniority of police officers available to speak to.
The evening, the violence began when more people arrived, amid rumours a 16-year-old girl had been attacked by police. There was looting, buildings were set on fire and missiles and fireworks were directed at police.
Latest London news
- Far-right thugs chanting ‘England’ loot booze from Sainsbury’s
- Map shows where riots have broken out across UK with more planned
- ‘Do not approach’ warning for man after murder of London bus driver
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub.
In the following days, violence spread across London and eventually to other areas of the country too.
The London Riots 2011 – how it unfolded
Thursday August 4 2011Mark Duggan Is Shot
29-year-old Mark Duggan is shot by police in Tottenham and later dies of his injuries. He was shot by armed officers who had intercepted the minicab he was travelling in after receiving information he was a gang member and had collected a gun.
SATURDAY AUGUST 6 2011Protest AGAINST MARK DUGGAN’s DEATH
A peaceful protest involving members of Duggan’s family and local residents makes its way from Broadwater Farm to Tottenham Police Station, demanding a senior police officer speak to them. This lasts longer than planned when none is available.
SATURDAY AUGUST 6 2011FIRST NIGHT OF RIOTS
Violence breaks out in Tottenham amid rumours a 16-year-old girl had been attacked by Police. Tottenham Post Office was set on fire, while looting occurred at the nearby retail park, shop windows were smashed, and police came under fire from missiles and fireworks.
SUNDAY AUGUST 7 2011SECOND NIGHT OF RIOTS
The violence spreads from Tottenham to neighbouring Enfield, where a Sony distribution centre was burnt down, and to nearby Wood Green, as well as south to Brixton. Shops are attacked while a Foot Locker in Brixton is set ablaze and a local Currys is looted by ‘hundreds’ of people.
MONDAY AUGUST 8 2011THIRD NIGHT OF RIOTING
Croydon is among the worst hit places, and local furniture store House Of Reeves, which had been in business since 1867, is burned to the ground. Rioters ‘watched as people jumped to escape flames’ while the building burned. In Ealing, shops were looted, cars set on fire and a supermarket set alight with petrol bombs. Other violent incidents are reported across the whole of the capital, while some unfounded rumours of riots spread on social media.
MONDAY AUGUST 8 2011Violence SPREADS OUT OF LONDON
Rioting spreads to Birmingham and West Bromwich, with looting, shops being vandalised and a police station in Handsworth being set alight. In total 130 people were arrested. In Ealing, a 68-year-old man died after he was punched while tending to a fire in a dustbin near his home.
TUESDAY AUGUST 9 2011DAVID CAMERON STEPS IN
Prime Minister David Cameron announces that over 16,000 police officers will be deployed in London to help tackle the unrest. Many shops and businesses close early in London while police adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any disorder, leading to fewer disturbances in the capital.
TUESDAY AUGUST 9 2011RIOTS CONTINUE OUTSIDE OF LONDON
While London was quieter by this point, incidents continued in other parts of the country with further reports of disturbances in Birmingham. There was also unrest in Liverpool and Birkenhead, as well as Manchester, with reports of looting, buildings being set alight and missiles being hurled at police.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10 2011CALM BEGINS TO RETURN
Some isolated incidents continue to occur across the country, but the rioting begins to die down. David Cameron announces plans to make plastic bullets available to police if necessary, and to have water cannons available at 24 hours notice.
THURSDAY AUGUST 11 2011THE AFTERMATH
David Cameron says there will be no ‘culture of fear’ as Parliament is recalled from its summer recess, while he and Theresa May accuse the police of being ‘too few, too slow, too timid’ during the riots in London and the West Midlands.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31 2011THOUSANDS ARRESTED DURING RIOTS
As of this date 2,987 arrests had been made as a result of the riots, with The Metropolitan Police using the Facewatch ID app to identify some suspects. Over £100m worth of damage was recorded in shops and other premises, and in the months and years afterwards, London began to rebuild. Many shops that were destroyed eventually opened their doors again.
On January 8, 2014, the jury at the inquest into Mark Duggan’s death concluded that he was lawfully killed, despite also concluding that he was not holding a gun when he was shot.
The verdict was upheld following an appeal by Duggan’s mother, Pamela Duggan, in October 2014.
MORE : South Africans hope riots will ‘scare government’ into change
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
Sign Up for News Updates
Get your need-to-knowlatest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
Privacy Policy
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
