In August 2011, violence erupted across London as thousands of people rioted, looted shops and set fire to properties and vehicles. The disturbance spread to cities and towns elsewhere in England. Five people lost their lives in the chaos, with at least 16 injured. More than 100 homes were destroyed along with dozens of businesses, adding up to around £200 million in damaged property.
Following the police shooting of a 29-year-old father-of-four and suspected drug dealer Mark Duggan on 4 August 2011, a peaceful protest march in Tottenham two days later descended into a running battle with police. The following days saw similar scenes in Hackney, Enfield, Brixton, Peckham, Croydon, Woolwich, Clapham Junction, Ealing and more areas of London. Disturbances were also reported in other English cities, including Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. More than 3,000 people were arrested, with over 1,000 charged with offences related to the disorder.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the outbreak of Britain's worst civil disturbances in decades, IBTimes UK looks back at the 2011 London riots.
6 August 2011: Youths face off with riot police in Tottenham during protests over the killing of Mark DugganMatthew Lloyd/Getty Images6 August 2011: A double-decker bus burns as riot police try to contain a large group of rioters on a main road in TottenhamLeon Neal/AFP6 August 2011: A police car burns after being set alight during rioting on a street in TottenhamStefan Wermuth/Reuters6 August 2011: A firefighter walks towards a blaze at the Carpetright building in TottenhamStefan Wermuth/Reuters6 August 2011: Buildings burn on Tottenham High Road, after youths protested against the killing of Mark Duggan by armed policeMatthew Lloyd/Getty Images6 August 2011: A shop and police car burn as riot police try to contain a large group of rioters on a main road in TottenhamLeon Neal/AFP6 August 2011: Firefighters tackle a blaze at the Carpetright building in TottenhamStefan Wermuth/Reuters6 August 2011: Mounted police ride in front of a burning building during rioting in TottenhamStefan Wermuth/Reuters6 August 2011: A man with a dog is seen inside a damaged jewellery shop in Enfield, north LondonStefan Wermuth/Reuters7 August 2011: Firefighters walk past the smouldering remains of the burnt-out Carpetright building on Tottenham High RoadDan Kitwood/Getty Images7 August 2011: Bricks and debris from the previous night's riots litter Tottenham High RoadLeon Neal/AFP7 August 2011: Aaron Biber, 89, stands outside his hairdressing salon, which was ransacked during rioting on Tottenham High RoadDan Kitwood/Getty Images7 August 2011: Police vans line the area near the burnt-out shells of two police cars on Tottenham High RoadLeon Neal/AFP7 August 2011: Police speak with a member of staff outside a sportswear store at the Tottenham Hale Retail Park ransacked by lootersLuke MacGregor/Reuters7 August 2011: Debris is scattered on the floor of an electronics goods retailer at the Tottenham Hale Retail ParkLuke MacGregor/Reuters7 August 2011: A pile of damaged goods left behind by looters are seen in the car park of Tottenham Hale Retail ParkLeon Neal/AFP7 August 2011: Police officers detain a man in Enfield, north LondonStefan Wermuth/Reuters8 August 2011: A police van driven past the shell of a double-decker bus set alight during riots in TottenhamLuke MacGregor/Reuters8 August 2011: Youths hurled missiles at police officers in riot gear near a burning car on a street in HackneyToby Melville/Reuters8 August 2011: Looters rampage through a convenience store in HackneyOlivia Harris/Reuters8 August 2011: Police officers in riot gear drag a man along a street in HackneyToby Melville/Reuters8 August 2011: Youths loot a Carhartt store in HackneyPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: Hooded youths loot a Carhartt store in HackneyPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: Local residents flee rioting on Clarence Road in HackneyDan Istitene/Getty Images8 August 2011: A masked man walks past a burning car outside a Carhartt store in HackneyPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: A masked youth walks past a burning vehicle in HackneyPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: A resident films a police officer on his mobile phone during disturbances in HackneyPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: Riot police walk past a burning vehicle on Clarence Road in HackneyDan Istitene/Getty Images8 August 2011: Firefighters battle an inferno in shops and residential properties in CroydonDan Kitwood/Getty Images8 August 2011: Firefighters try to extinguish a huge blaze at a 140-year-old family run furniture store in CroydonCarl de Souza/AFP8 August 2011: Fire crews try to extinguish a blaze at the Reeves furniture store in CroydonCarl de Souza/AFP8 August 2011: Fire crews work at the scene of a huge fire at a 140-year-old furniture store in CroydonCarl de Souza/AFP8 August 2011: Riot police stand in front of a burning building in CroydonCarl de Souza/AFP8 August 2011: Hooded youths walk past a looted Debenhams store in Clapham JunctionPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images8 August 2011: The Fire Brigade attend a blaze at a party shop in Clapham JunctionChris Jackson/Getty Images8 August 2011: An injured man is led to an ambulance in handcuffs after being removed from a branch of Currys electrical store in Clapham JunctionLeon Neal/AFP8 August 2011: Looters flee from a clothing store in Peckham, south LondonDylan Martinez/Reuters8 August 2011: A young woman is detained outside the Currys electrical store in BrixtonDan Kitwood/Getty Images8 August 2011: Two young men are detained outside the Currys electrical store in BrixtonDan Kitwood/Getty Images8 August 2011: Police officers stand on Brixton High Street after looting broke outDan Kitwood/Getty Images9 August 2011: Debris lies on the pavement outside a looted computer games store in BrixtonDan Kitwood/Getty Images10 August 2011: The smashed window of a florist in Haven Green is seen after a night of rioting in EalingJim Dyson/Getty Images9 August 2011: A man clears up debris in a supermarket in Ealing, west LondonToby Melville/Reuters9 August 2011: Burnt-out cars are removed from a residential street in HackneyMatt Cardy/Getty Images9 August 2011: Cars burn on a street in Ealing after rioting spread to west LondonToby Melville/Reuters9 August 2011: Burning timbers crash to the floor, sending a spray of embers into a shopping mall in Woolwich, southeast LondonJon Boyle/Reuters9 August 2011: Firefighters attend a blaze at a Sony warehouse in Enfield in north LondonLuke MacGregor/Reuters9 August 2011: Smoke billows from the burnt-out remains of the Sony Centre in EnfieldChris Helgren/Reuters9 August 2011: Smoke is seen over north London from behind the Bobby Moore statue outside Wembley Stadium as the England v Netherlands game is called offJulian Finney/Getty Images9 August 2011: The charred remains of the Reeves furniture store in Croydon is pictured after a third night of violence on the streets of LondonAndrew Cowie/AFP9 August 2011: The charred remains of a bus is pictured in CroydonAndrew Cowie/AFP9 August 2011: Former prime minister David Cameron talks to Acting Borough Commander Superintendent Jo Oakley during a visit to Croydon to inspect the destruction from the previous night's violence. He had only just cut short his summer holiday and recalled parliament to debate the London riotsStefan Rousseau9 August 2011: Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson and former Home Secretary Theresa May visit residents and shopkeepers in Clapham JunctionPaul Ellis/AFP10 August 2011: A policeman stands outside the fire-damaged party shop in Clapham JunctionPeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images9 August 2011: Volunteers hold brooms aloft as they prepare to clean the streets in Clapham Junction following a night of unrestPaul Ellis/AFP9 August 2011: A volunteer gets ready to clean up after the previous night's rioting at Clapham JunctionChris Jackson/Getty Images10 August 2011: London Mayor Boris Johnson meets local residents in TottenhamDan Kitwood/Getty Images10 August 2011: A boarded-up window of a shop in Peckham festooned with post-it notes carrying messages of hope and peacePeter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
An inquest into the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot twice by a police marksman in Tottenham, ruled that he was lawfully killed by police despite a jury declaring by a majority of eight to two that he did not have a gun at the time. The police officer had claimed he acted in self-defence after he saw Duggan holding a gun and appearing as if he was ready to fire. Following a four-month inquest, a jury declared that Duggan probably threw the gun out of the vehicle's window. His family however rejected the verdict, saying Duggan had been "executed" by police.
