Armored vehicles have been brought in to clear the streets for the first time by police to tackle what senior police officials are saying is the worst rioting and looting in living memory.
More than 6,000 officers, including 2,500 mostly public order trained officers and 3,500 local officers were on duty as violence spread from north, to east, west and south London on Monday night. Senior officers say the violence and looting on Monday night was the worst in living memory.
Armored vehicles were brought in during the early hours of Tuesday morning where much of the worst looting and arson took place. The vehicles were driven to push back a crowd of 150 looters who had smashed up stores and businesses in the area.
The deployment of the vehicles brought echoes of Northern Ireland during the Troubles to London streets and marked the start of what sources say are much tougher tactics against rioters. However, a police source said the use of water cannons was a decision for government, not Scotland Yard.
The use of armored vehicles to clear the gang of rioters after hours in which it appeared the police had lost the streets means they will be used again if violence continues, the Yard said. Across London, officers were fully stretched and members of the public were injured as bottles, petrol bombs and other missiles flew.
More than 200 people were arrested, bringing the total arrests over the last three days of disturbances to 450. Scotland Yard said “disturbing” levels of violence was directed at police again on Monday night, with 44 injured.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
More than 6,000 officers, including 2,500 mostly public order trained officers and 3,500 local officers were on duty as violence spread from north, to east, west and south London on Monday night. Senior officers say the violence and looting on Monday night was the worst in living memory.
Armored vehicles were brought in during the early hours of Tuesday morning where much of the worst looting and arson took place. The vehicles were driven to push back a crowd of 150 looters who had smashed up stores and businesses in the area.
The deployment of the vehicles brought echoes of Northern Ireland during the Troubles to London streets and marked the start of what sources say are much tougher tactics against rioters. However, a police source said the use of water cannons was a decision for government, not Scotland Yard.
The use of armored vehicles to clear the gang of rioters after hours in which it appeared the police had lost the streets means they will be used again if violence continues, the Yard said. Across London, officers were fully stretched and members of the public were injured as bottles, petrol bombs and other missiles flew.
More than 200 people were arrested, bringing the total arrests over the last three days of disturbances to 450. Scotland Yard said “disturbing” levels of violence was directed at police again on Monday night, with 44 injured.
(아주경제 앤드류 이 기자)
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