Additional reporting: Ricky Compton (Twitter), Xenia Coudrille (Facebook), Elliot Bertram (research)



Feeling generous? We’re doing this unpaid, and we’d really appreciate a beer or two tomorrow. (no domain name because somebody just went and bought it. Ah well, we’ll stick around here for a while)

Live updates below.

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0434: No more news coming in from Ealing/Acton area, probably a safe bet that the police will get the rioters and looters cleared from the area very soon. We’re clocking off – thanks to everyone who tweeted updates and helped us keep it going. If anything new starts tomorrow then we’ll start a fresh page – link will be at the top of this one.

We’ll finish this morning’s coverage with this statement from Commander Christine Jones of the Metropolitan Police. Goodnight all, stay safe out there!

“We are using tactics flexibly to respond to the disorder we are still seeing in different areas of the capital. Anyone involved in criminality should be under no illusion that we will pursue you. We have been making arrests all evening and have a team working during the night examining CCTV images. We will follow up evidence in the coming days in order to bring anyone else responsible for criminal acts to justice.”

0427: BBC London travel alerts reporting that all London Underground stations should be open as normal for the start of traffic EXCEPT for Ealing Broadway.

0425: Police vans speeding along the A40 according to Paul Lewis, who is still out on the ground.

0423: Armoured police vans are now chasing hooded youths in Acton, apparently.

0418: Ealing reports have calmed down. If nothing else happens we’re going to stop at 0430. We need sleep!

0412: Earlier pictures of burnt out cars near Ealing film studios, courtesy of James:

0411: Met police statement from a while ago regarding their armoured vehicles currently deployed in Ealing/Acton area:

“The Metropolitan Police Service has introduced additional tactics using armoured police vehicles to push back in excess of 150 people in the Lavender Hill area where substantial disorder and damage was being caused to shops and local businesses.

The vehicles were used in support of officers on the ground and resulted in the disorder in Lavender Hill area being brought under control.

The success of this tactic means that we will consider its use elsewhere as required.”

0408: VIDEO: More footage of Ealing rioters prior to arrival of police. (external link to Youtube)

0405: Unconfirmed reports that this bus was hijacked by just over 15 youths a fair while ago. Route N11 goes from Ealing Broadway to Liverpool Street via Acton, which fits with the pattern of violence reported so far.

0404: Fire in Ealing as of two minutes ago:

0402: VIDEO: Footage taken in Ealing Broadway at 10.30pm last night. Compare that to the pictures of destruction below.

0359: Latest picture from the fire up at Sony’s distribution centre in Enfield Lock – looks like the metal warehouse has crumpled in on itself.

0356: Earlier reports about Blockbuster may have been inaccurate – seems that it was in Hayes, not Southall. TfL say trams are running a regular service in South London.

0353: Met Police latest: 334 arrests, 69 charged, 2 cautioned. Docklands Light Railway planning to run a full service tomorrow. Unconfirmed rumours of trouble brewing in areas north of Hayes – it is safe to disregard these.

0351: Ealing just now, pic courtesy of Mustafa Khalili, Paul Lewis’ companion on the ground.

0348: Police have just arrived at Santander and got that under control. No news on Angel despite sporadic reports from earlier. No news from anywhere north along the Uxbridge Road so far … more to follow in a moment.

0346: Latest from Ealing, a Toni and Guy’s hair salon has been hit.

0342: Fairly certain that Santander, Paddy Power and Blockbuster have all been hit by looters. Police are approaching the area rapidly. Not many reports coming from the ground so info is scant at the moment.

0339: Latest image from Paul Lewis of the Guardian, who is on the ground right now. Other reports coming in that local Sikhs have mobilised themselves to prevent looters from getting near the gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Southall.

0334: Company that boards up broken windows and such for the Metropolitan Police has had to stop after running out of materials, according to Sky News.

0330: Local people apparently seen protecting shops on Southall Broadway. This could be a re-run of the Turkish shopkeepers in Dalston earlier who repulsed the rioters and looters rather effectively. Let’s hope so, because we’re both dying to knock off here!

0328: “Roving gangs” around Ealing Common and West Acton. First pic of scene via Paul Lewis now.

0322: Muddled reports now coming in from Southall/Ealing area. Guardian’s Paul Lewis is about to arrive on scene so hopefully concrete information will come through.

0319: Unconfirmed reports that Santander Bank in Southall has been hit by rioters, seeking confirmation.

0317: Ealing Broadway a few minutes ago.

0314: Police armoured vehicles moving towards Southall. Guess we’ll be here a bit longer than 0320……

0312: Sky (not BBC, error by us) reporting that the armoured vehicles were used in Clapham Junction area earlier.

0308: Spoke too soon. Trouble flaring in Ealing again, police have deployed heavy armoured vans into the area. (lockerz.com link)

0304: No more news coming in from London area. A few reports from Bristol and Liverpool, but as this is a London blog and we’re both exhausted I’m afraid you’ll have to rely on the local news services for there. We’re giving it till 0320 and then we’re packing it in.

0257: Picture from Bristol earlier:

0252: Thames Water statement re water pressure:

“We apologise to customers in SW19 and CR0 who may be experiencing low pressure. ” SW19 is Wimbledon, CR0 is Croydon.

0249: Met Police statement from earlier:

“At approx 21:15hrs on Monday 8 August police were called to reports of a 26-year old man found with gun shot wounds in Warrington Road, Croydon junction with Dupass Hill. The man was inside a car when police found him. ”

“He was taken to a south London hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

“Two other people, believed to be in their late twenties, were also at the scene. They were arrested for handling stolen goods and taken to a south London police station.”

0245: Reports now coming in that London Fire Brigade are running low on water and that mains water pressure in Thornton Heath (Croydon) is apparently lowering. Unconfirmed.

0240: Police helicopter out over Hackney again, reports of fresh clashes from the area.

0236: London Eye pictures reckoned as fake by people in the know. Whoops, sorry.

0231: No reports of violence on South Bank all night say people in the area. On the balance of probabilities I’m pulling the London Eye pictures.

0227: Well, here are the two pictures of the London Eye. I can’t quite believe this, even with everything else tonight. Could be a very well organised faker?

0224: Spent last few minutes checking unbelievable rumour that the London Eye is on fire. Only one picture so far, can’t tell if it’s a fake or not.

0219: VIDEO: From earlier today, apparent mugging victim. Not nice to watch. (link to Facebook)

0216: No further news on Camberwell Green.

0213: Huge fire at Waltham Abbey (varying reports on location – some say it’s actually Sony again). Pic courtesy of the BBC – they have apparently changed the subtitles now, it is definitely the Sony distribution centre in Enfield Lock again:

0206: Majority of London webcams are apparently offline. BBC reports of Manchester are apparently inaccurate, according to Greater Manchester Police’s Twitter feed. The O2 store in Camden is reportedly being looted as well. More updates to @gazthejourno and @thewestlondoner on Twitter or use the Contact Us form at the top.

0201: Reports have really slowed down from London, thankfully. Looking around to see what else has happened.

0200: Camberwell Green was reported to have been hit by rioters 20 minutes ago. Seeking more info.

0156: Avon and Somerset Police report 150 rioters moving through Bristol city centre. We have some pictures, will get those up

0152: Nottingham city centre has reportedly been cordoned off by police.

0150: Sutton High St closed at Carshalton Road. No further info on Tottenham Court Road and hasn’t been for over an hour – looks like that’s quietened down.

0149: National Express have suspended all suburban stops in London but will continue to serve Golders Green and London Victoria.

0146: Rumours that Grahame Park estate in North London has been hit by rioters and looters. Seeking to confirm.

0144: Fire at pub in King Edward Road in Barking is now out. Meanwhile, police in Ealing are regaining control of the Uxbridge Road:

0141: Camden High Street blocked near Marks & Spencer (M&S). Meanwhile, heavy police presence in Wembley – unconfirmed rumours of rioters reaching there. Seeking to confirm.

0138: VIDEO: Toxteth, in Liverpool. (YouTube external link)

0135: Hayes has lots of activity in the area. Conflicting reports.

0134: PICTURE: Stokes Croft, Bristol. (lockerz.com link)

0130: Hayes in West London is reporting lots of sirens in the area. In other news, an unmanned police station in Birmingham has been set on fire.

0128: No new reports from Ealing in the last half hour. Enfield Sony distribution centre still burning, as is Clapham’s Party Party Party shop containing the helium canisters. Danger with those is that the superheated gas inside may explode, sending shards of metal everywhere.

0125: Reports coming in of riots in Bristol now. Not confirmed.

0122: Lots of rumours still circulating about Harrow but people actually on the ground there say it’s quiet.

0119: Rioting in Liverpool confirmed by Sky. Reports of fireworks being thrown and cars being set ablaze.

0116: VIDEO: Fire at the Sony Centre. Impressive footage.

0115: The shop burning in Clapham is Party Party Party which apparentl y contains gas canisters of some description.

0112: Anyone in West London fancy making me a mug of black coffee? Harrow is the centre of numerous rumours but it still seems calm there.

0110: 35 people apparently arrested in Birmingham. Rumours of rioting in Liverpool as well. Unconfirmed.

0108: BBC now reporting that the canisters in Clapham contain hydrogen, not helium. Imagine the Hindenburg disaster and then think of that happening to a residential block. Grim.

0106: Explosions reported from Waltham Cross earlier weren’t a gasworks – they were apparently the Sony distribution centre going up.

0104: Mothercare in Colliers Wood was apparently set on fire earlier. Seeking confirmation and/or pictures.

0103: Police clearing Lavender Hill:

0102: VIDEO: Rioters smashing up Romford Debenhams.

0100: Police helicopter has apparently left Enfield Lock, the fire there looks “normal”. Only on a night like tonight could you describe a burning warehouse as “normal”.

0058: East Dulwich Sainsburys reports that their shutters have been ripped off and looters have got into the shop.

0056: Update on Clapham fire: the block pictured in update of 0007 has been evacuated due to presence of helium canisters. Not sure why that’s a concern given that helium isn’t flammable…

0054: MAP: Interactive Google map here has been updated to show all the locations hit tonight.

0053: Sky News reporting that an old lady in Clapham woke up to find looters in her bedroom. Looters now breaking into private dwellings?

0052: Helium cylinders reported to be near a fire in the Clapham area, hence why some residents are benig evacuated. Can anyone narrow down the location?

0050: Reports emerging that Stagecoach have had to withdraw 6 buses and 10 more suffered damage. 2 lost all their windows and 1 more was completely burnt out.

0046: Waltham Cross fire picture. Still not confirmed what’s actually happening there.

0043: UK update – Manchester riot rumour was quashed by Greater Manchester Police, whilst further rumours are surfacing about Liverpool. I’ll be honest, we don’t have the resources to check what’s going on outside of London.

0040: Another one of the Sony centre in Innova Park, Enfield Lock. Twitter users – @thewestlondoner is being run by Ricky Compton who is also providing updates, if you’re on the move. Worth following.

0039: UNCONFIRMED: rumours of gasworks explosion in Waltham Cross. Much further north than anything else in the last half an hour.

0038: Reports from Clapham that some residents have been told to evacuate. Working on confirming that one.

0035: More of the Sony Centre. If there are updates from elsewhere please tweet @gazthejourno or @thewestlondoner

0033: The Sony Centre is apparently their central distribution centre. Checking more details as they come in.

0031: Police are en route to Enfield Lock now. Good job the old Royal Ordnance factory was pulled down years ago!

0030: Sony Centre in Enfield Lock is apparently on fire.

0028: Eyewitness in Enfield reporting fire near Hertford Road.

0026: Barking, an hour ago.

0024: Reports from the ground in Ealing that police have pushed the rioters back to the Broadway from the Uxbridge Road.

0022: http://www.AppliancesOnline.co.uk have very kindly agreed to sponsor our coverage. I am most grateful for this because I’m looking for a job at the moment – all this coverage is completely amateur and unpaid.

0020: Whew – sorry, needed a drink. Latest conflicting rumours that Electric Ballroom has been hit, but those have been going around for a while now. Unconfirmed.

0017: Sky News now, non-riot police are facing down crowds by Camden Lock. No fires though.

0013: Uxbridge Road in Ealing has been closed. Uxbridge itself is OK, as are Ruislip and Harrow.

0009: Notting Hill – Ledbury Restaurant has been raided and the diners mugged. Kitchen staff apparently came out wielding knives.

0007: Fancy dress shop in Clapham ablaze.

0007: Rumour of pub ablaze on King Edward Road in Barking. What is it with the arsonists targeting pubs?

0005: Lightly equipped police advancing on Camden Lock:

0004: Sainsbury’s in Chalk Farm:

0003: This is what police in St John’s Hill, Clapham, are taking control of again:

0002: London Overground suspended between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon. Camden appears to have calmed down following earlier reports of youths on pushbikes and police moving into the area. Lots of police sirens behind heard in Islington area.

2359: Wetherspoons in Woolwich, again.





2354: Police have arrived at St John’s Hill in Clapham and rapidly brought the area under control.

2351: Ealing as of a few minutes ago.

2349: News crew in Croydon have had the window of their car smashed – in a rather lucky location…

2348: Headmasters in Clapham not long ago:

2345: Ladbroke Grove and South Woodford Tube stations now closed.

2344: Top end of Tottenham Court Road has now been reached by looters. Ealing situation is fluid, keeping an eye out for Chalk Farm and Camden news.

2338: Camden station on fire now, Chalk Farm station closed. Ealing shopping centre is supposedly on fire now as well, according to the BBC.

2337: Looters are being chased down by police in Surrey Quays. Police have also confirmed that Woolwich Curry’s was looted by about 100 people who arrived in cars.

2334: Unconfirmed rumours of trouble brewing in North West London – receiving some info about Edgware and Canons Park at the moment. However, Harrow on the Hill station has reopened.

2333: Ealing has been well and truly struck by rioters. Rumours that they’re attacking anything in a uniform (police and fire). Commercial waste bins have been overturned (why?) and a further rumour has it that Nando’s there has been set alight. This appears to be false as far as we can tell.

2329: Rumours on Twitter that a tiger is on the loose. Ladies and gentlemen, I have seen the picture and can confirm that it is a rather fat tabby cat.

2328: BREAKING: Non-fatal shooting in Croydon, according to the Press Association newswire.

2326: The balloon has definitely gone up in Ealing! This is (was) a Smart car near the Broadway.

2323: Latest from Homerton hospital is that a teenage girl has been admitted, reportedly after taking a brick to the head.

2320: Camden is under control by police now. Meanwhile Ealing has been hit by rioters – reports that hotels in the area are being evacuated by police. Verifying other reports now.

2317: Clapham Junction station has reportedly been reopened, whilst Ealing Broadway remains closed after rioters descended on it.

2315: Unconfirmed reports of a shooting in Croydon. No further details, could just be something cooking off in the large fire there. Which, we’re informed, is spreading across the street.

2312: Mob attacking police with bottles on Portobello Road, police have cordoned off the street.

2311: Ealing a few moments ago.

2309: Unconfirmed reports of various low-level goings on around Ealing and Hanwell. Checking that now – keeping a sharp eye out for any pictures of tanks…

2308: Reports of muggings now in Clapham area.

2306: IMAGE: Wetherspoons in Woolwich has been set alight. (lockerz.com link)

2303: Dalston – Turkish shopkeepers have apparently beaten back the rioters in their area.

2303: General updates from everywhere. Croydon – Sky News have withrawn their van after it was attacked. Camden – kids are apparently roaming around shouting anti-police slogans.

2300: Wizard Man of Sutton is out and about.

2257: Rumours about Bluewater and Lakeside appear to be false. No tanks either!

2254: That picture involving tanks was another false rumour. Our bad!

2252: Please be wary of fire rumours. We will do our best to sort through them. Confirmed is that Mitcham Smyths, as well as Collier’s Wood shopping centres are not on fire.

2251: Wimbledon Guardian confirms the attacks on Collier’s Wood PC World, JD Sports and Sports Direct.

2250: Trains reportedly non-stopping Ealing Broadway now.

2248: Reports from Dalston that Turkish shopkeepers are fighting back against the riot gangs. Could people power be succeeding where the police have so far failed?



2243: Morrisons in Mitcham, clearly undamaged and not alight. If you look at the map it seems that the riots are proceeding clockwise around the capital. Here’s hoping West London doesn’t get hit next…

2237: Lewisham now seems relatively calm compared to earlier. No helicopter in the area. Pembury Estate is still up in arms with police struggling to regain control of the area. Police are sending more units to check earlier reports of violence in Kentish Town and Chalk Farm.

2235: Sutton. 30 police officers in front of Matalan, all pubs in area have been closed early.

2232: VIDEO. Unbelievable scenes from Sky News’ Mark Stone on the ground in Clapham Junction (not Clapham itself). Balls of steel for staying on the spot, that man.

2228: Mitcham is now quiet. False rumours of a supermarket having been set alight there. There were other rumours earlier that a large wave of violence would be unleashed at 10pm but that has failed to materialise as well. Romford is also much quieter than earlier.

2224: Bus attacked in Dalston on Shacklewell Lane.

2222: Bedfordshire Police say there is no reports of any disturbance in Luton. Meanwhile in London, there are several reports of looters going around Camden now. Main thrust of the riots seems to be north-south.

2218: Police now say to avoid any part of Croydon town centre north of the flyover, apparently.

2217: Asda in Sutton seems quiet, with four youths being questioned outside the store by police. Seems to have calmed down there as well now.

2215: No further reports of riots at Enfield – seems quiet there, perhaps the mobs have moved on. Argos on Old Kent Road a few minutes ago:

2214: Rioters reported at Woolwich, Bexley, Thamesmead and Old Bexley. Widespread looting in Croydon, apparently few police on the ground.

2211: VIDEO. Angry woman remonstrates directly with the rioters.

2211: Unconfirmed reports that fires have started in Chalk Farm, could just be rumours. Eltham Argos has been looted but it seems that local pubs are still open…

2208: Rioters now reached Whitechapel apparently. Meanwhile this just came through from Croydon:

2207: Curry’s in Charlton on Woolwich Road reported to be in trouble from looters now.

2203: Battersea a few minutes ago:

2202: Reports that rioters have hit Eltham. Confirming that one now…

2201: London Fire Brigade reporting that ten fire engines and 50 crewmen are at a furniture shop fire in Croydon. Riot police are now out in Battersea.

2200: Sky News have been reporting that the Home Secretary, Theresa May, could deploy water cannon. I wonder how many police are left in reserve?

2157: Reports coming in that the Orange mobile phone network in South London is down.

2154: Latest from Birmingham: the Bullring has been broken into and shops are being looted.

2153: Ikea in Purley has been evacuated. Meanwhile unconfirmed reports are coming in of riots in Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute.

2152: Front page of tomorrow’s Daily Telegraph:

2150: Brixton last night, video of the streets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8DRsA0Ly-U

2149: Sky News now showing footage of people looting in Clapham. Kudos to the camera crews out on the ground there. In Sutton police have assembled outside Asda there.

2147: Harringay has calmed down now. Shops in Wandsworth have been boarded up.

2146: Debenhams in Clapham has reportedly been ransacked and Lavender Hill in Clapham is suffering from looters as well.

2145: Jessops in Colliers Wood is on fire (not burnt down yet!), say locals there.

2143: Large police presence in Camden, also reports that the situation in Harrow is calm but tense. Canning Town McDonald’s has also been vandalised.

2141: Hundreds of people are looting at Clapham Junction. A CNN reporter has apparently fled from bottles and other missiles in Peckham.

2132: West Croydon. Updates will stop for a few minutes, my laptop is getting too slow to function here.

2130: Reports coming in now regarding Bayswater Road, stand by for confirmation.

2128: H Samuel’s in Ealing Broadway has been looted. Our man on the ground in Sutton has just reported that people are being asked to leave pubs, unconfirmed rumours of rioting there.

2123: Croydon, latest from Sky News.

2121: West End power cut confirmed – the theatrical show Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has had to be cut short. Reports that David Cameron is rushing back to the UK tonight to head up a COBRA emergency briefing tomorrow morning.

2120: Ikea in Purley Way, Croydon, has been evacuated.

2117: Hard reports coming in from Whitechapel of youths wearing scarves chasing people about the streets. Rumours from earlier that rival gangs are putting aside their differences in order to do more looting and rioting.

2115: AUDIO. Paul Lewis reporting from Pembury estate.

2111: Croydon, captured from BBC live footage:

2109: Eating dinner so updates may slow down by a minute or two.

2105: Image: JD Sports in Woolwich. (external link to lockerz.com)

2103: PC World in Colliers Wood is being looted. Meanwhile Wembley is on the same footing as Harrow – heavy police presence but no presence of rioters or looters.

2100: Furniture shop in Reeves Corner, Croydon, is on fire. Chasing up reports on the bus – seems like there might have been an explosion.

2057: Woolwich is apparently suffering problems with rioters – lots of unconfirmed reports, we’re sifting through. A bus has apparently been blown up in Croydon as well.

2056: Croydon is on fire!

2053: Via Paul Lewis, the Guardian’s man on the ground. ‘City of London Police officer: “You’re not a fucking journalist. Do you want some.” ‘ We don’t offer a comment on that – it comes directly from his Twitter feed. Commenters say the police officer may be stressed, which is understandable.

2050: Reports now coming in from Mitcham. Betting shops in Mitcham, Surrey are being targetted. Rioters seen around Iceland in the town centre.

2047: Ilford has now calmed down. Clapham Junction still fluid. No news from Harrow or Hayes – we’ll disregard those areas unless something happens. No news from Brent Cross or other outlying areas of North-West London.

2045: Police now in hand-to-hand combat on the Pembury estate. Acting Met Police Commissioner has asked people to clear the streets.

2044: Clapham Junction station now closed, commuters not being permitted to leave. Docklands Light Railway suspended between King George V and Woolwich stations.

2041: Just been sent this. Looks like some people are advising the rioters and looters on how to avoid being caught. Looks similar to literature I’ve seen at the trade union and student riots in London earlier this year.

(image removed – it is of a leaflet being handed out on the street)

2039: Clapham Junction, all the station shops are closed. About 40 youths are running around being pursued by a handful of police.

2036: Pembury estate – a police car containing a solitary officer was attacked by youths throwing bricks and stones. He escaped, don’t know if that was with or without the car.

2034: Allders in Croydon is reportedly on fire.

2030: WordPress still rather sluggish at my end. Meanwhile, Lloyds Bank in Birmingham has apparently had its windows smashed.

2029: Latest image from Hackney – police seem to be gaining ground there. Things are quietening down, it seems – tweet @gazthejourno or @thewestlondoner if you have any updates.

2027: Hayes is now quiet. Harrow is quiet, with heavy police presence and the town centre closed. Investigating rumours surrouding Colliers Wood now.

2024: Power outages being reported in various locations, confirming that before we report them. Bethnal Green station has been closed due to a fire alert, whilst Barking station is also shut.

2021: Interesting little tale from Upton Park just in. Hoodies there tried to attack a shop, and the shop owner and his staff came and beat them all up apparently.

2019: This picture just in from Birmingham, thanks for the tipoff Daniel Benton. WordPress is getting sluggish, apologies to our readers.

2015: Man shot in face in Leeds! Good gods. Meanwhile, back down here, this Ilford jewellery store is being looted:

2013: Harrow still dead quiet but the atmosphere there is expectant. Harrow on the Hill station is closed and the Central Line is non-stopping Bethnal Green. Roman Road in Bow has had a car turned upside down.

2010: Various mainstream media outlets have been reporting disturbances in Birmingham. Leeds has gone up as well – we’re checking these both.

2008: Lewisham town centre seems to be calming down, say numerous eyewitnesses. Mind you, the pictures are still a bit dubious:

2005: More from Paul Lewis – a press photographer has been dragged to the ground and attacked by four youths at Pembury.

2001: Reports coming in of a power cut in Soho. Meanwhile photographers on the Pembury estate are being bottled by the rioters there. Police raided the estate on Wednesday, could this be the inhabitants’ idea of revenge?

1959: Burning cars are apparently being used as barricades on the Pembury estate in Hackney now, says Paul Lewis of the Guardian. People taking pictures are also being accused of being police informers. The situation down there is really getting nasty.

1957: Phew, things have slowed down slightly. This is the burnt-out car in Hackney from earlier, we’re looking to see if anything new’s transpired there.

1955: Paul Lewis of the Guardian reports that rioters and looters have been using Blackberry’s pin-protected messaging system to spread info amongst themselves.

1953: More travel updates. Peckham Rye, South Bermondsey, Queens Road Peckham and West Croydon stations are closed. No concrete reports of violence in Harrow, I think it’s safe to put that down to rumours alone.

1951: Latest stats from the police: 215 arrested, 27 charged, 35 officers injured.

1948: My mistake about Boris – apparently he’s coming back to London, not leaving. Mea culpa!

1945: Weather reports for the south of London say no rain tonight to dampen people’s enthusiasm. South London residents are apparently claiming that the mobile phone network is down. Ilford town centre is in lockdown as well, as of 20 minutes ago. Two lines of riot police are defending the police station there.

1944: Sky news showing footage of youths in the process of setting fire to a car in Hackney.

1941: Updates from Hackey’s Penbury estate via Paul Lewis, seems that the police have lost control of the riots there. In Hayes buses are being stopped and boarded by police. Harrow and Rayners Lane are apparently experiencing trouble, just seeking to confirm that last one…

1939: Tweet from the Mayor, Boris Johnson: “Heading to the airport. Back in London tomorrow lunchtime. This mindless violence must cease.” He’s not seriously leaving London is he??

1937: MAP: another interactive graphic showing the location of tonight’s riots.

1935: Reports from earlier that West Croydon Station was closed with several people locked inside. Hayes has gone quiet and although Harrow is geared up for violence with shops and shopping centres closed, there is nothing happening there either.

1933: Trouble now moving down from Lewisham towards Catford.

1931: That Greggs image from the Skycopter is from Peckham, not Deptford. Keeping up with this is getting very tricky!

1930: Hayes & Harlington station: police outside conducting stop-and-search on people leaving the station. (external link to Lockerz.com)

1930: Conflicting reports about Primark in Romford. It may not be on fire (what is it with people tweeting about fire?) but there are definitely rioters there. Not sure if they’re looting just yet.

1928: Roman Road in Bow, all shops are closed but a huge group of hooded youths are trying to smash into them. Reports are coming in from Harrow and also Hayes (West London) as well. Could this be what the forces call a 360 degree contact? 12 police forces surrounding London have been asked to provide reinforcements to the Met and City forces.

1926: Greggs in Peckham, courtesy of the Skycopter:

1924: More news from Harrow. St George’s shopping centre has been closed off, with groups of youths gathering outside.

1922: Chatter from the TfL bus radio network overheard by source on a bus; Old Kent Road and New Kent Road are blocked by debris. Confirming.

1919: NEW: Elephant and Castle – around 10 people with planks of wood running down Walworth Road. Violence seems to be spreading around the capital now. Meanwhile pubs and restaurants in Romford are being emptied by police, and there is NO FIRE at Tescos Express in Hackney. First Group are suspending bus operations in the Romford area.

1918: Dalston and Kingsland reportedly free from rioters – seeking to confirm that. Any updates from the area? Tweet @gazthejourno and @thewestlondoner.

1917: Old news from Brixton – 40 minutes ago arsonists attacked a shop over there and set it alight.

1913: The Croydon Guardian was reporting a 100-man standoff over there earlier.

1913: Additional reports coming in from Ilford. Just confirming those – pictures may follow shortly.

1910: Reports coming in of more disturbances in Birmingham. A bit outside our remit!

1909: A “river of fire” has apparently erupted in Hackney town centre. Fuel has been poured down the street and set alight – this might be connected with the looted Texaco petrol station from earlier.

1907: Lewisham town centre is a complete no go area – crowds are apparently heading towards the police line.

1905: A dozen or so youths are attacking police in Barnet High Street.

1902: Hackney violence reportedly spreading eastwards towards Kingsland and London Fields. Meanwhile, reports that police are rushing around the Harrow area, accompanied by ambulances, but no reports of violence from there – yet.

1901: MAP: Interactive map tracking the location of tweets using the #londonriots hashtag. (external link)

1900: Hackne Mare Street has been cleared police. We’re trying to get updates on previous locations to keep everyone updated with the situation.

1900: Burning car in Lewisham:

1858: Romford station is reportedly open now but police are still maintaining a heavy presence in the area.

1857: Tesco Express & petrol station in New Barnet are on fire, apparently. Other than that Barnet seems to be quiet.

1855: Trains non-stopping Peckham Rye station. Looking for Barnet updates now, not much heard from there …

1854: Reports from Mitcham/Colliers Wood area that the Tandem Centre and Sainsbury’s have both closed.

1852: Burnt out bus in Peckham now:

1851: Rumour that Primark in Romford has been set on fire – trying to confirm now. Fits with earlier sporadic reports from there. Any fresh updates – @gazthejourno or @thewestlondoner.

1850: Lee High Road in Lewisham closed, reports of an incident in Belmont Park. Rioters advancing on Catford, apparently.

1847: Peckham and Lewisham – reports that cars are on fire. Rioters reportedly getting closer to Tooting.

Picture:

1843: Lewisham a few minutes ago:

1841: VIDEO: bus journey through Brixton, courtesy of our man on the ground, Sean Cameron. Also, hello to Sky News – any chance of a job after this? 😉

1837: A bus is reported to be on fire in Peckham. Reports that Lewisham looters are heading towards Catford.

1836: Romford station has been closed and police are on South Street. Meanwhile fresh reports are now coming in from East Ham. Argos, Barclays and a pound shop have been smashed.

1833: Police are grouping together in the centre of Harlesden. Meanwhile three police carriers have gone rushing towards Harrow town centre.

1832: Injured police dogs, location likely Hackney:

1831: Petrol station report from earlier is from Texaco in Hackney. Apparently rioters have control of that.

1830: Hackney riots reportedly started next to the Pembury estate after a stop-and-search by police turned bad. Police are now at the top of Ellingfort Road and 3 helicopters – Sky, BBC and police – are overhead.

1827: Masked youths smashing up Peckham. It’s definitely kicked off there. No further news from NW London, sounds like the closures & evacuations there may have been precautionary.

1826: Ros Griffiths, who runs the Employment café in Brixton, says violence across capital is result of years of tension. Meanwhile we’re only just keeping up to date – reports coming in that a petrol station somewhere may have been attacked. Trying hard to confirm.

1823: No more reports from Southgate, people there are saying it has calmed down. Riots erupting everywhere else in London though. I need a minute to breathe and clear my head!

1820: Latest reports now are from Romford, with police riot vans being present. Any more news from there? Ravenside Retail Park in Lea Valley has also been struck by rioters and looters, apparently. We now have our Twitter feed up and running – follow @TheWestLondoner.

1817: and another one from Peckham. Damage to shops being reported by BBC News. Police massing to retake the street.

1816: More groups reported to be forming in Barnet. No buses travelling into Peckham or Lewisham. Struggle to keep up with all this! Peckham pic from just now:

1814: Fireworks, petrol bombs and smoke flares in Hackney apparently, awaiting confirmation. Sky News shows pictures of peope setting fires and turning over commercial waste bins.

Picture from Hackney about 20 minutes ago.

1811: Someone has been arrested in Barnet. Indicates that the large crowd there might have turned nasty. Updates to @gazthejourno on Twitter if you have them. “Eerily quiet” in Stratford.

1807: Another picture from Harlesden. (we can’t take pictures from lockerz.com)

1807: Half of the shops in Green Lanes have been closed, apparently.

1806: Picture just in from Peckham, seems to have spread there as well. Large crowds on the street.

1804: Hackey – someone has apparently tried to steal a BBC reporter’s camera.

1803: Minor delay, just checking my parents were OK. Harlesden is definitely under attack from rioters, checking that out now.

1758: Latest from Harrow is that the town centre has been evacuated. Could be a preliminary measure; there’s no reports of violence from there yet.

1756: Car ablaze on Mare Street, Sky News have live aerial footage.

1754: Heavy police presence in Harrow, north-west London, apparently they are stop-and-searching people there.

1753: 215 arrests, 27 charged over the weekend so far. 200+ people gathered in High Barnet, local shops and Brent Cross shopping centre both closed early.

1748: A jewellery shop in Harlesden has apparently been smashed into. This means we have Harlesden, Hackney and Lewisham definitely under attack by rioters at the moment.

1746: Lewisham High Street a few minutes ago. Police and passers-by mingling.

1743: Mare St in Hackney is now at a standstill, say people on the ground. Lewisham is definitely heating up at the moment.

1739: Toby Carvery in High Barnet is apparently OK, according to someone standing next to it. That’ll teach me to sit on new info for a moment before putting it out!

1738: FLASH – our source on the ground says the BBC reporter in Hackney has been bottled. Source was standing next to her at the time – she’s now getting out of there. Violence escalating.

1736: McDonald’s in Lewisham:

1735: Reports now coming in that police are under attack in Lewisham. Brixton LUL station is still closed but nothing’s happening there. Enfield and Tottenham are both quiet. No more news from Green Lanes or Harringay.

1732: Rumours emerging of something big happening in Stratford. Meanwhile there’s a BBM going around calling for organised looting in East London. Not going to reveal details unless/until something actually happens on the ground.

1730: Co-Op pharmacy, Silver St, Enfield, a few minutes ago:

1728: More hoodies on the ground in Hackney. Courtesy Sarah Henry, source on ground.

1726: Shops in Lewisham are closing as normal. No reports of any violence from there as yet.

1725: Scene on the ground in Hackney now. Police now up to Mare Street/Morning Lane junction. Courtesy of Sarah Henry.

1723: BBC helicopter has gone to refuel. Meanwhile Sky News’ heli is still airborne. Our source in Hackney says 300+ rioters and about 60 riot police are on the ground there. A bus opposite the Hackney Empire has been set alight.

1721: Damn you WordPress – more routine server maintenance causing problems at my end. Unconfirmed reports that events in other areas are warming up – will confirm before posting locations.

1712: City of London police have deployed their heavy Guardian riot vans into Hackney now.

1710: We have a source on the ground in Hackney. Crowd numbers 100 or so, police are advancing on them and driving them back from the buses. 3 helicopters in the area – at least one of them is the BBC.

1708: Police charging in to Hackney to get control – rioters now smashing up single decker bus.

1705: Live pictures on BBCNews channel. People emptying a van, bus trying to escape from the scene and it’s contacted the bus. Truck now being driven at the police line! (Hackney)

1704: Shops on Mare Street in Hackney now being looted. No updates on police just yet.

1659: St James’ Park in central London is apparently full of police. Are they expecting more from the 50 youths who tried to attack shops on Oxford Street?

1654: More precautions by Sainsbury’s, this time in Harringey Arena retail park.

1652: Sainsbury’s in East Barnet have barricaded their door shut:

1652: Bin just been set alight in Hackney – this comes on top of the police car being smashed up a few minutes ago.

1649: Comments reckon that organised gangs are the main cause of trouble in Hackney. No new pictures as yet – @gazthejourno on Twitter if you have anything to contribute.

1648: Brixton station is closed by police request according to the TfL website.

1645: BBC News have a helicopter over Mare Street now, streaming live footage.

1642: Youths are now smashing up a police car on Mare Street in Hackney whilst the violence has spread to Hackney Central station. No reports of arson or looting so far, this is all direct clashing with the police. Seems to be a more robust response from them today.

1641: “Huge crowd” on Mare Street running away from police, helicopter in the area as well.

1641: Mare Street in Hackney has now been closed, apparently. Heavy police presence in the area so something big must be happening. Not much detailed information from the ground.

1640: Met Police have opened a hotline for information about the looters: 020 8345 4142.

1638: Lots of Tweets about Southgate, seems that people there are braced for imminent trouble.

1635: Mare Street, Hackney.

1631: Mixed messages coming from Hackney – some are saying it’s all quiet there, others are saying it’s turned nasty. Looking for confirmation.

1629: Policeman in Hackney has reportedly been injured – waiting on more details from that one.

1625: Various mainstream media outlets reporting that Twitter and Blackberry messaging are to blame for the riots. I can’t see anyone encouraging rioting or looting on Twitter, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the private Blackberry messages were being used to direct the mobs.

1623: Green Lanes retail park apparently all closed now.

1622 Police being vigilant and carrying out stop-and-searches on people in Croydon:

1620: Unconfirmed report that Sainsbury’s in Green Lanes has closed, with metal barriers being put up around local shops.

1619: Two people arrested in central Hackney according to Dave Hill, the Guardian’s man on the ground.

1618: Palmers Green about a quarter of an hour ago. Local businesses aren’t taking any risks tonight.

1616: Stratford shopping centre is now closing, on police advice.

1613: Mare Street in Hackney is apparently the focus of a large group of people with police on their way. So much for earlier report all was quiet there – perhaps he was a local trying to get people to stay away?

1611: This picture claims to show one person’s haul from last night’s looting. People were using laundry bags and shopping trolleys to steal as much as they could.

1607: Apparently things are warming up in Barnet now. Shops were closing there earlier, fingers crossed. Tweet me – @gazthejourno – the site team are working on getting live updates onto our Twitter account too.

1605: Hackney resident says all is quiet there despite rumours of groups gathering there. So far so good.

1603: Rioters reportedly heading for Green Lanes, with all buses to Tottenham being diverted elsewhere. Last night’s mobs were apparently travelling around in cars.

1559: LBC Radio is reporting that rioters are due to target Enfield and Southgate tonight. Last night saw a fake bomb scare in Southgate with 100 Territorial Support Group deployed into the area – perhaps tonight is the night the riots reach them? Hopefully not.

1558: Commenters and Twitterers both reporting large groups of hooded youths in Edmonton.

1552: Various reports that shops in Enfield and Barnet are also being closed early. Two jeweller’s shops in Waltham Cross was also looted last night.

Following on from last night’s liveblog we’re opening up here again as and when things heat up. Reports are coming in of planned violence in several London boroughs – shops in Palmers Green, Southgate and Winchmore Hill have all closed early at police request.

Updates will follow above as and when we can confirm them.