Riot flares on streets of Brixton

'Shots fired' as shops and businesses looted after protest over man's death in police custody

Rioting broke out on the streets of Brixton, south London last night after a protest about the death of a black man in police custody last week escalated into an ugly disturbance. Shops were looted and fires started as police in riot gear attempted to quell the trouble.

Cars were also torched as a gang of about 100 youths, black and white, stormed along Brixton Road, the area's main thoroughfare, pulling clothes and electrical goods from the shattered windows of shops.

About 100 police officers in riot gear formed a line across the road to stifle pockets of trouble and prevent anyone entering the area - the scene of massive rioting in 1981.

One report said that two shots were fired as the centre of the demonstration moved into the area of the Ritzy cinema, and a police motorcyclist was reported to have been pulled from his machine by a gang of at least 10 rioters.

By midnight, as a pall of black smoke hung over the streets and the police presence was stepped up to around 300, the trouble had moved on to other locations, notably the junction of Coldharbour Lane and Atlantic Road. A two-mile area was sealed off and Brixton and Stockwell underground stations were closed.

The trouble began at around 7.30pm yesterday following a protest at the death at Brixton police station of 26-year-old Wayne Douglas, who was arrested nine days ago, suspected of aggravated burglary.

The Police Complaints Authority said Douglas had been taken to the police station, where he suffered a fatal collapse. A post-mortem examination revealed he had been suffering from heart disease.

A spokesman for the authority said: "Tests are still continuing. The police contacted the PCC immediately and an investigation was launched under the control of Edward Wignall, a member of the authority. Inquiries are being conducted and an appeal for witnesses has been launched."

As the riot grew in intensity, police charged a gang of around 10 people who were throwing missiles through the window of the Body Shop. One youth was pulled to the ground and another was led away with his hands in the air. On the other side of the street, a group of black youths shouted "Killers, killers" at the police.

A crowd of around 50 youths armed with baseball bats arrived in Ferndale Road, where no police were present, and smashed the windows of an Adidas sports shop. They ripped metal barriers from the windows and smashed their way into the store, grabbing armloads of expensive trainers, sweatshirts and sports gear. The looting went on for around 15 minutes as youths made repeated raids on the shop, running off with goods to a house near by.

Two women passers-by were mugged and one was wrestled to the ground in the frenzy. A squad of riot police arrived as the last looters left the scene and grabbed one white youth. Five officers pulled him to the ground and beat him with batons. He was handcuffed and led away.

There were no confirmed estimates of casualties from the rioting, though the police officer who was dragged from his motorcycle was known to have been injured, an ambulance service spokesman said. In a later incident, a policeman was taken to King's College Hospital with eye injuries. One civilian was taken to hospital and three walking wounded made their own way there.

"One officer was taken to St Thomas's Hospital with injuries to his back and elbow, though they were not thought to be serious injuries," the spokesman said. "We don't know how many casualties can be expected. The situation is changing all the time."

As the disturbance moved to Atlantic Road, close to what became known in 1981 as the Brixton frontline, a car burned out of control on its side in scenes reminiscent of the worst of the earlier riots. Items from a looted pub lay strewn around.

One gang shattered a cigarette machine and helped themselves to its contents. Others looked on, waiting for an opportunity to grab something for themselves. Overhead, a police helicopter circled, training a spotlight on the scene of violence below. Some youths used hoods and scarfs to disguise their faces from video surveillance equipment.

By midnight, with dozens of cars ablaze, pockets of trouble flared in numerous streets with youths attempting to smash shop windows and set fire to more cars and business premises. It was reported that a warehouse had been set ablaze.

Around the junction of Coldharbour Lane and Atlantic Road, the streets were blocked off in all directions. Cars were set on fire and left burning while a few people out of a crowd of about 100 made flimsy, make-shift barracades of old furniture and kitchen appliances in Coldharbour Lane.

The shells of cars turned over and burning lit up the gangs of youths, black and white, who stood watching, whistling and shouting. A pub at the junction echoed to the sounds of splintering wood and shattering glass as youths inside demolished it, throwing out furniture and equipment.

As the last of the troublemakers dispersed early today, the cold, wet weather dissuaded anyone thinking of gathering around the scenes that had seen trouble earlier. The disturbances seemed to be over, for the moment at least.

Night of violence, page 3