Pauline Whitehouse Morrisons

Pauline Whitehouse Morrisons

Pauline Whitehouse Morrisons. Violence erupted in broad daylight this afternoon as rioters surrounded police vans, looted lorries and targeted shops in a series of attacks across London.Scores of police raced to Hackney as a mob of hooded youths began hurling missiles at the officers. There was also sporadic violence in nearby Dalston where shops and businesses were attacked and youths clashed with police and set fire to cars outside Lewisham Town Hall.

Other areas of London were braced for violence as shops closed early in Peckham, Stratford and Islington and barriers were erected outside Westfield Shopping Centre. Kilburn High Street has also been closed off.

This afternoon, police said 215 people had been arrested since the violence began in Tottenham on Saturday night, and 25 people charged.

On Twitter, users posted that the violence was rapidly brimming out of control with one person tweeting he had seen 'at least 30 riot vans and three helicopters' in Hackney. Youths were seen setting fire to cars, rubbish bins, and were also spotted setting off fireworks in the direction of police.

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