
Diane Abbott has defended the 'understandable anger and upset' of a furious mob of rioters who lit bonfires and hurled petrol bombs at officers in Dalston, east London, last night.

The Shadow Home Secretary made the remarks after violence marred a protest over the death of a black father'who was wrestled to the ground by police in Hackney last week.

Demonstrators last night barricaded part of Kingsland Road - close to where Rashan Charles died last week following a struggle with a police officer - with wheelie bins, mattresses and household debris.

But speaking at a vigil in Dalston today, Mrs Abbott urged protesters to heed the wishes of Mr Charles' family who have called for peace following his death.

Standing alongside the 20-year-old's grieving father Esa (right), Diane Abbott (left), said: 'That is the call that every parent dreads. The call that tells you that your young child has died in those sorts of circumstances'

A large crowd gathered for speeches outside Stoke Newington Police Station early this afternoon, with Stafford Scott speaking on behalf of Esa Charles, the father of Rashan

One protester held a sign saying: 'Jail killer police, a badge is not a licence to kill. Justice 4 Rashan. Movement for justice by any means necessary'

Standing alongside the 20-year-old's grieving father Esa, she said: 'That is the call that every parent dreads. The call that tells you that your young child has died in those sorts of circumstances.

'I have been in contact with the police from the beginning but I thought it important to come here today to publicly show my support as a member of the community, as a mother and as your member of parliament.'

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP continued: 'Violence is not the answer but I am here to assure the parents and assure the community that I will stand by the parents in their fight for the truth.

'Most of us will have seen the video and there are questions to be answered and I will not rest until those questions are answered.'

A furious mob has lit bonfires and hurled petrol bombs at officers in Dalston, east London, after a protest over the death of a black father 'who was wrestled to the ground by police' turned violent

Riot police at a protest in Kingsland Road in east London, where people gathered in response to the death of 20-year-old Rashan Charles

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, pictured, earlier told MailOnline: 'The anger and upset at the death of Rashan Charles is understandable. But Rashan's family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful'

Mr Charles died after he was chased by an officer who attempted to remove an object from his throat, according to an initial probe by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Footage on social media appeared to show at least one police officer attempting to restrain the 20-year-old in a shop close to where the protest is being held.

His death has sparked fury in the local community with Ms Abbott earlier telling MailOnline: that the 'anger and upset' at the death of Mr Charles was 'understandable'.

She added: 'But Rashan's family have explicitly spoken out against hostile actions. We must respect their wishes and any protests must be peaceful.'

Mr Charles' father was joined by the family of Edson Da Costa who died last month - six days after being detained by police - for a vigil organised by Stand Up To Racism.

Stafford Scott, who stood next to Mr Charles and spoke on behalf of the family, directly addressed the young people who protested the night before, and said that they understand their anger and frustration.

At the scene this morning well-wishers stopped at an impromptu memorial to Mr Charles that has been set up on the street

Police were also patrolling through Dalston this morning and were spotted taking notes as they surveyed the scene of last night's riots

Among the tributes was one which read: 'Rest easy young King. Love Kay x'

He said: 'Don't feel that the family don't feel that anger and that frustration too. But what the family knows is that taking it to the streets doesn't give you justice.'

Mr Scott said the family have found the best legal support they can and are now asking the community to 'support them in their struggle' but with 'peace on the streets'.

'No justice, no peace doesn't mean violence - it means we will not watch this in silence,' he added on their behalf.

As violent riots erupted last night, dramatic video showed more than a dozen officers retreating from protesters who launched objects at them.

They were also seen clinging to the front of a truck which ploughed through bins that had been set up as a barricade.

The violence has drawn parallels with the London riots in 2011, which were sparked by the police shooting of 29-year-old Mark Duggan in Tottenham.

As darkness fell, youths were seen setting fire to mattresses in the middle of the road and pelting police vans with objects.

Riot officers and police dogs were deployed to neutralise the violence in east London. Unverified footage on social media appeared to show at least one police officer attempting to restrain Mr Charles, who later died in hospital, in a shop close to where the protest was held today

The footage that sparked the riots: An officer appears to restrain Mr Charles on the floor of the shop, in Kingsland Road, east London, at 1.45am last Saturday

Riot police on horseback rush to where several youths protesting Mr Charles' death lit mattresses and wheelie bins in the middle of the road

The windows of several shops in Kingsland High Street were smashed as the violence extended beyond Dalston Kingsland Station.

With the aftermath of the riot cleared up this morning, a friend of Mr Charles' family told MailOnline that they had been left 'stricken with grief'.

Flowers have been left outside Yours Locally, the shop where the incident happened last weekend.

A Black Lives Matter placard lay outside, along with a photo of Rashan Charles with the words 'enough is enough' and 'it could be you next' on it.

And as night descended, worrying videos showed youths setting fire to mattresses in the middle of the road and pelting police vans with objects

Protesters take to the streets of Dalston, east London, and clash with police following the death of Rashan Charles

Protesters (pictured) take to the streets of Dalston and clash with police following the death of Rashan Charles

Two police officers were seen walking down Kingsland Road taking notes in pocket books.

Amid the chaos last night, local businesses, bars and restaurants pulled down their shutters - locking customers inside - as youths rode through the flame-lit streets on bicycles.

But today, convenience store Yours Locally closed ahead of the demonstration at Stoke Newington Police station out of respect for Mr Charles' grieving family.

Shopkeeper Okkas Tapki, 47, from nearby Haggerston, said: 'We have spoken to the family because they are our customers - his mum and dad.

'He was always coming to the shop. I knew him as a customer.'

The windows of several shops in Kingsland High Street were smashed as the violence extended beyond Dalston Kingsland Station

As night descended, police in riot gear confronted the protesters who had been setting fire to objects on the streets

Dramatic footage on on social media showed more than a dozen officers retreating from a crowd of demonstrators who launched objects at them

Discussing the protests, he said: 'I think it's important when they have a demonstration they respect other people, and respect all the shops here in the street.'

Father-of-one John Mullen, 32, who lives in Hackney Central, said: 'I can totally understand why the protests took place. You can also appreciate why they sometimes spill over into unfortunate incidents.

'My understanding is there has been three such incidents involving the deaths of young men at the hands of the police, that didn't really get reported as they should. So I can appreciate the community's anger.'

A large crowd gathered for speeches outside Stoke Newington Police Station early this afternoon, with Stafford Scott speaking on behalf of Esa Charles, the father of Rashan.

A lorry attempts to drive through makeshift road blocks at a protest in Kingsland Road in east London, where people gathered in response to the death of Rashan Charles

He said: 'Don't feel that the family don't feel that anger, and that frustration too. 'But what the family knows is that taking it to the streets doesn't give you justice.

'No justice, no peace doesn't mean violence - it means we will not watch this in silence.'

Afterwards, groups of community members and activists stood outside the police station with two officers stationed outside the front doors while a further four were in front of steel barriers.

A heated debate took place outside the station as a group of young men questioned two police liaison officers about stop and search tactics.

Tributes to Mr Charles were left at the scene of the riots, left. Pictured right, police officers on patrol in Hackney this morning

A local woman leaves a tribute to Mr Charles among flowers and candles that have been placed at the side of the road by well-wishers in Dalston

One officer said: 'I am not here to have a conversation about what is right and wrong about the police today.

'I am here to try and facilitate a peaceful demonstration which you are absolutely entitled to have.'

A young man said: 'Are you allowed to put somebody in a headlock? That's what happened in the video.'

The policeman replied: 'If you are trying to do something to potentially save someone's life.'

Officers on horses and others in riot vans were deployed as the police tried to contain the disorder and break up groups of protesters

The windows of several shops in Kingsland High Street were smashed as the violence extended beyond Dalston Kingsland Station

It is in sharp contrast to the events of last night, when officers on horses and others in riot vans were deployed as the police tried to contain the disorder and break up groups of protesters.

Several bins were set on fire before a mattress, thrown on top of the bonfire, sent plumes of black smoke spiraling into the dark sky above.

Helicopters could be heard circling above as protesters launched fireworks at riot officers and police dogs.

Scotland Yard said 'a number of items including bottles' were thrown at officers attending a 'planned protest' near Middleton Road at 3.40pm on Friday.

A local Tesco express in Dlaston locked several customers in the store as riot police clashed with protesters outside

Riot police at a protest in Kingsland Road in east London, where people gathered in response to the death of Rashan Charles

Protesters angry at the death of a black man 'who was wrestled to the ground by police' barricaded a London road and threw bottles at officers

Protesters told pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists not to travel through the barricade as shattered glass was strewn across the road.

One police officer sustained an injury to his eye but remains fit for duty. A member of the public was also knocked from his bicycle and assaulted as he attempted to pass through the protest and a number of parked vehicles were damaged.

Detective Superintendent Claire Crawley, from Hackney Borough, said: 'The disorder of last night was separate from the peaceful protest at Stoke Newington Police Station that was held earlier that day.

'Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but there was inconvenience to local residents and road users and damage caused to vehicles, a cash machine and a number of windows.

'We will always support the right to lawful protest but behaviour such as that seen last night cannot be tolerated.'

The police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), is investigating the events leading up to the death of Mr Charles, whose passing sparked protests in east London

A man appears to set fire to an object on the streets of east London after a protest over Mr Charles' death turned violent

Signs attached to traffic lights and lamp posts amid the violent protests bore pictures of Mr Charles alongside the words: 'Enough is enough'

It comes just days after as many as 150 people chanting 'no justice, no peace' while holding Black Lives Matters placards brought traffic to a standstill outside east London's Stoke Newington Police Station.

The vigil was organised by Stand Up To Racism, with campaigners saying they are 'enormously concerned and angered' over his death.

The crowd, which was made up of people from different races and ages, listened to speeches about alleged police brutality as uniformed officers looked on.

Rashan's father Esa Charles said at the time: 'I'm a father but my son was killed in the hands of police. Me and my family are grieving over this.

'I thank everyone for their support, it's a comfort to us to read your messages. We are seeking justice on this but I want everybody to be peaceful. This is not something we are going to take into our own hands.'

Dramatic footage showed protesters, who took to the streets over Mr Charles' death, setting fire to a mattress in the middle of the road

Shattered glass littered the roads in east London where a handful of protesters are holding Black Lives Matter placards

Scotland Yard said 'a number of items including bottles' were thrown at officers attending a 'planned protest' near Middleton Road

Police officers could no longer be seen at the site of the clashes this evening but dozens of protesters, some masked, are still lining the streets

The IPCC said in a statement on Friday: 'We understand the concerns raised following Rashan's death.

'We will independently examine the circumstances of this incident, we will follow the evidence, we will consider whether there is an indication there may have been misconduct or criminality.'

The IPCC added that it would 'seek to answer the questions that Rashan's family and the community of Hackney understandably have'.