A third straight night of disorder saw buildings, vehicles, and garbage dumps set alight, stores looted, and police officers pelted with bottles and fireworks, as groups of young people rampaged through neighborhoods.As authorities struggled to keep pace with unrest unfolding at flash points across London, the violence spread to the central city of Birmingham, the western city of Bristol, the northwestern cities of Liverpool and Manchester.
The past two nights saw violence and looting in north London as protesters took to the streets – first to express their frustration with the police following a recent shooting, and then last night, it seems, simply to cause trouble and get free goods from shops.
The government was aiming to toughen its stance against the violence, as some communities complained that stretched police were struggling to contain the unrest as rioters plundered from stores at will, menacing shocked customers at restaurants and attempting to invade homes. Stores shut early across London, fearful of violence and looting.Though the unrest escalated through Sunday, the crisis worsened Monday and early Tuesday.
Many more neighborhoods saw mobs vandalize commercial streets or break into buildings - some acting with virtual impunity, as authorities struggled to deploy officers to every scene of unrest.
