Readers 'disgusted' by London violence

Dubai: Two days of violent rioting, looting, and what police called “copycat criminality” in different areas of London have left citizens feeling unsettled.

Described as one of London’s worst riots in history, police lay the blame on criminal thugs who started looting in the area of Tottenham, north of London.

Gulf News reader Fahad Mughal disagrees blaming the police for not handling the situation any better. “It’s unjust, animalistic, and the police has only increased the tension in the way they have dealt with the situation.”

George Stothard, a British national from Tottenham living in Dubai, also agrees that the situation has gone out of hand describing it as “absolutely disgusting.”

The cause of the disorder was triggered when 29-year-old Mark Duggan was shot to death in Tottenham on Thursday after an exchange of gunfire with the police, which lead to a chain of riots. His death is still being investigated.

“Tottenham is a relatively neglected area, with a diversity of people, and a history of tension with the police,” said Mughal. “It is obvious that people’s voices in the community are not being heard,” he added, explaining that despite the circumstances, violence is not the primary way to find solutions.

Zoe Kaviani, another Gulf News reader refers to the riots as “general demonstrations” that have become a trend in many countries around the world as a result of the tensions between the government and the people.