Thaindian News

London, Aug 10 (IANS) Hooded rioters looted shops, set buildings alight and clashed with the police as arson spread from London to other cities of Britain Tuesday. At least 563 people were arrested as violence spiralled for the fourth day and Prime Minister David Cameron warned rioters that they will “feel the full force of the law”.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said a 26-year-old man found shot in a car in Croydon, amid rioting in the south London town, had died in hospital

Some 16,000 officers will police London’s streets to prevent a fourth night of rioting, the prime minister said as he recalled parliament for one day Thursday to discuss the situation. Earlier, he cut short his holiday in Tuscany to return home Tuesday.

The Met Police has cancelled leave and drafted in support from 30 forces, BBC reported.

The Metropolitan force released what it said would be the “first of many” CCTV images of rioting suspects.

Besides the 563 arrested people, 105 have been charged in connection with violence in the capital.

The violence started in the British capital’s northern district of Tottenham Saturday over the fatal shooting of a man by police.

Around 111 police officers have suffered injuries including serious head and eye wounds, cuts and fractured bones after being attacked by rioters wielding bottles, planks, bricks and even driving cars at them Tuesday.

Shops and businesses in some areas were closing early to avoid the violence and looting that spread through London Monday.

Cameron, who cut short his holiday following the rioting, pledged to restore order, recalling Parliament Thursday in response to the “sickening scenes”, which triggered unrest in other cities, BBC said.

The recall of Parliament will allow MPs to “stand together in condemnation of these crimes and to stand together in determination to rebuild these communities”, he said.

Cameron met officers in the Metropolitan Police’s Gold command in Lambeth Tuesday afternoon before speaking to emergency service personnel in Croydon town in south London.

Condemning the “sickening scenes of people looting, vandalising, thieving, robbing”, he told rioters: “You will feel the full force of the law. And if you are old enough to commit these crimes, you are old enough to face the punishment.”

Around 300 people gathered outside a police station in Tottenham Saturday night to demand “justice” after 29-year-old cab driver and alleged drug dealer Mark Duggan was killed in Thursday’s shootout with police.

London has seen a wave of “copycat criminal activity” since the initial disturbance, the Met Police said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said the use of plastic bullets - never before fired to deal with riots in England - would be “considered carefully” in the event of further disorder.

But he added: “That does not mean we are scared of using any tactic.”

Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin had earlier ruled out calling in the Army.

Two 18-year-olds were arrested in Folkestone, Kent, and a 16-year-old was being questioned in Glasgow on suspicion of inciting violence through internet social networking sites.

Tuesday evening brought reports of a disturbance in Salford, Greater Manchester, where 70 to 80 youths were in a stand-off with police and a building had been set alight.

Youths in West Bromwich smashed shop windows and set cars alight, while riot police were surrounding Birmingham’s Mailbox high-end shopping building.