UK riots: Trouble erupts in English cities

10 August 2011 09:25 am

Sporadic violence has broken out in several cities around England, although London stayed largely quiet overnight.There was unrest in cities including Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham, with shops being looted and set alight.

Three men died when they were hit by a car in Birmingham – locals claimed they were protecting their neighbourhood.

Greater Manchester Police's assistant chief constable said officers had faced "extraordinary levels of violence."

ACC Garry Shewan said his force had faced "groups of criminals intent on committing widespread disorder."

Some 113 people have been arrested so far over the trouble in Manchester and Salford, where hundreds of youths looted shops and set fire to cars and buildings.

In the West Midlands, 109 have been arrested and 23 charged following scenes of disorder in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich – where vehicles were set on fire.

Meanwhile, West Midlands Police have started a murder inquiry after the deaths of the three pedestrians hit by a car.

In Birmingham, riot police surrounded the Mailbox, the city's upmarket shopping centre, following the disturbances seen in the area on Monday night. (Source: BBC)