Volatile south London erupts in violence

Published August 9, 2011
Riot policemen charge past burning buildings in Croydon, south London August 8, 2011. Rioting and looting spread across London on Monday as hooded youths set buildings and cars ablaze, smashed shop windows and hurled bottles and stones at police in a third night of violence in Britain's worst unrest in decades.
Riot policemen charge past burning buildings in Croydon, south London August 8, 2011. Rioting and looting spread across London on Monday as hooded youths set buildings and cars ablaze, smashed shop windows and hurled bottles and stones at police in a third night of violence in Britain's worst unrest in decades.
Firefighters attempt to extinguish a blaze on a building near Reeves Corner in Croydon, south London, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. A wave of violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.
Firefighters attempt to extinguish a blaze on a building near Reeves Corner in Croydon, south London, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011. A wave of violence and looting raged across London and spread to three other major British cities on Tuesday, as authorities struggled to contain the country's worst unrest since race riots set the capital ablaze in the 1980s.
A youth kicks the window of a jewelry store near the Bullring shopping center in Birmingham, England, as violence spreads outside London, Aug. 8, 2011. In the nation's central city of Birmingham, dozens of people attacked shops in a main retail district, spreading the chaos beyond London for the first time since violence broke out on Saturday night.
A youth kicks the window of a jewelry store near the Bullring shopping center in Birmingham, England, as violence spreads outside London, Aug. 8, 2011. In the nation's central city of Birmingham, dozens of people attacked shops in a main retail district, spreading the chaos beyond London for the first time since violence broke out on Saturday night.
A policeman stands inside a looted shop in Clapham Junction, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Violence and looting spread across some of London's most impoverished neighborhoods on Monday, with youths setting fire to shops and vehicles, during a third day of rioting in the city that will host next summer's Olympic Games.
A policeman stands inside a looted shop in Clapham Junction, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011. Violence and looting spread across some of London's most impoverished neighborhoods on Monday, with youths setting fire to shops and vehicles, during a third day of rioting in the city that will host next summer's Olympic Games.
An injured man is removed from an electronic shop in handcuffs into an ambulance after being arrested for looting, in Clapham Junction, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.
An injured man is removed from an electronic shop in handcuffs into an ambulance after being arrested for looting, in Clapham Junction, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.
Smashed displays and stock is shown in a mobile phone shop in Clapham Junction, south London on 8 August 2011. Now in it's third night of unrest, London has seen sporadic outbreaks of looting and clashes both north and south of the river Thames. Two police cars and a large number of buildings were set ablaze on Saturday in Tottenham, north London following a protest over the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man in an armed stand-off with officers. The patrol cars were torched as dozens gathered outside the police st
Smashed displays and stock is shown in a mobile phone shop in Clapham Junction, south London on 8 August 2011. Now in it's third night of unrest, London has seen sporadic outbreaks of looting and clashes both north and south of the river Thames. Two police cars and a large number of buildings were set ablaze on Saturday in Tottenham, north London following a protest over the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man in an armed stand-off with officers. The patrol cars were torched as dozens gathered outside the police st
A masked youth pulls a burning garbage bin set on fire by rioters in Hackney, east London, Monday Aug. 8, 2011.
A masked youth pulls a burning garbage bin set on fire by rioters in Hackney, east London, Monday Aug. 8, 2011.
Police arrest a man for looting in Clapham Junction in south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.
Police arrest a man for looting in Clapham Junction in south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.
British police officers stand guard as a car set on fire by rioters, burns in Hackney, east London, Monday Aug. 8, 2011.
British police officers stand guard as a car set on fire by rioters, burns in Hackney, east London, Monday Aug. 8, 2011.
British police officers block off the town center as rioters gather in Croydon, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.
British police officers block off the town center as rioters gather in Croydon, south London, Monday, Aug. 8, 2011.

Photos by agencies.

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