London riots

August 8,2011

London riots

Two nights of rioting in London's Tottenham neighborhood erupted following protests over the shooting death by police of a local man, Mark Duggan. Police were arresting him when the shooting occurred. Over 170 people were arrested over the two nights of rioting, and fires gutted several stores, buildings, and cars. The disorder spread to other neighborhoods as well, with shops being looted in the chaos. Collected here are images from the rioting and the aftermath. -- Lane Turner (26 photos total)

Fire fighters and riot police survey the area as fire rages through a building in Tottenham, north London on Aug. 7, 2011. A demonstration against the death of a local man turned violent and cars and shops were set ablaze. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP)

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A rioter throws a burning wooden plank at police in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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Mounted police officers chase rioters on the streets in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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Riot police officers face off with protesters in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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A masked protester hurls an object toward riot police officers in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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A policeman in riot gear stands guard in Tottenham Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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A double decker bus burns as riot police try to contain a large group of people on a main road in Tottenham on August 6, 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Police officers detain a man in Enfield, north London August 7, 2011. Police said they were called to Enfield, a few miles north of Tottenham, where youths had smashed two shop windows and damaged a police car. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) #

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Fire rages through a building in Tottenham on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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Riot police officers escort an injured man after arresting him in Tottenham on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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A protester faces off with riot police officers on the streets in Tottenham on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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Police officers make their way on the streets in Tottenham on Aug. 7, 2011. (Lewis Whyld/PA/AP) #

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Buildings burn on Tottenham High Road in London during protests on August 6, 2011. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images) #

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Protestors face off against riot police lines on Tottenham High Road on August 6, 2011 in London. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images) #

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Police officers detain a man in Tottenham on August 7, 2011. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) #

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Police officers in riot gear walk past a burning building in Tottenham on August 7, 2011. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) #

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A shop and police car burn as riot police try to contain a large group of people on a main road in Tottenham on August 6, 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A woman walks through the debris with two children as riot police try to contain a large group of people on a main road in Tottenham on August 6 2011. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A policeman walks past a damaged jewelery shop in Enfield, north London on August 7, 2011. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters) #

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A police officer patrols as firemen continue to dowse buildings set alight during riots in Tottenham on August 7, 2011. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters) #

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Police cordon off an area on August 7, 2011 during unrest in Enfield. (Karel Prinsloo/AP) #

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Animals are taken from a pet store after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

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Aaron Biber, 89, assesses the damage to his hairdressing salon after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

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Burnt out cars lie in the road after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

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A man stands next to a burnt out van after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011 . (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

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Residents watch as a building burns after riots on Tottenham High Road on August 7, 2011. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

London riots: in ashes, a firm that survived two world wars

It survived the Depression, two world wars and the deepest recession in a century.

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Firefighters battle the fire that broke out at House of Reeves furniture store in Croydon

By Graeme Paton

7:30AM BST 10 Aug 2011

But House of Reeves, a 144-year-old furniture store in the heart of Croydon, could do little in the face of 100 or so yobs hell-bent on tearing up this particular corner of south London.

The shop, a local landmark of such repute that it gave its name to the road on which it now stands, was razed as youths rampaged through the town’s streets, smashing doors and windows.

In one of the most searing images of the London riots, flames tore through the store on Reeves’ Corner on Monday night, with smoke being seen for miles around. By morning, all that was left was a charred shell and onlookers were kept well back for fear that the shattered building could collapse.

It was a crushing blow for a company that was founded in 1867 and has remained in the Reeves family for five generations. Trevor Reeves, 56, the founder’s great-great grandson, said: “If we were a computer shop, they would have just broken in, taken the stock and left. But you can’t very well carry a three-piece suite through the centre of Croydon can you? It was obvious that the only thing left for them to do was to set fire to the place.

“It is completely devastating; heartbreaking. The family has been through a lot; the world wars and the Depression in the 1930s were obviously tough and the last few years have been particularly difficult, but we have always kept going.

London riots: Telegraph readers' photos of the rioting and looted areas of the city

Telegraph readers have been sending us their pictures of the rioting and looted areas of London. If you have photos related to the recent unrest, email them to mypic@telegraph.co.uk, supplying a little info on where and how the pictures were taken, and we'll include the best in this picture gallery.

This amazing picture of a car exploding on Mare Street in Hackney was taken by Telegraph reader Miks Uzans, who writes: "There were around 30 well-equipped rioters. The police didn't even come close to this; instead they were blocking the road 200m away."