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Tottenham Burns: Rioting Erupts On Streets

Most Rioters 'Were Already Criminals'

What began as a peaceful protest to demand justice for a man shot dead by police descended into violence in Tottenham.

On Sunday morning, the remains of two police cars could be seen in the middle of Tottenham High Road.

The vehicles had been hot-wired at the police station, driven out onto the road and set alight.

That was the start of what developed into a full-scale riot in this area of Tottenham.

A London double decker bus was also set ablaze a short way down the road.

Beyond that, there is a scene of real devastation - supermarkets have been burnt to the ground, the local post office is gone and a carpet showroom was collapsing.

Residents living in the flat above the store had to be evacuated.

The whole area is littered with bricks and missiles, which had been thrown at police officers.

At the nearby Tottenham Hale retail park, looters laden with laundry bags full with stuff were seen running off - their faces were not covered and there were no police anywhere.

Youths also looted a Carphone Warehouse and sports store, fleeing across the road with armfuls of stolen clothing.

It didn't take long for the crowds to clock the news cameras - one photographer was attacked and his camera stolen in the ugly atmosphere.

When you talk to the people here about what actually happened, they believe there was a simmering situation.

People are angry towards the police over the shooting of Mark Duggan on Thursday.

They believe it was unjustified and they don't believe the police story.

That was the touchpaper and what kicked off last night was, in their words, inevitable.

The people who have spoken to Sky News claim the police made up the story of a bullet being lodged in a police radio , saving an officer.

They allege it is not true and claim Mr Duggan's death was an "execution" and he was man, they say, who had never been in trouble.

This is despite the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirming a police radio with what appeared to be a bullet lodged in it had been recovered.

There is obviously a deep wound that needs to be healed in this part of north London.

After the Broadwater Farm riots back in the mid-80s, there had been some progress made with the relationship between the local community and the police.

But what has happened in Tottenham seems to reveal the tensions have not been totally solved.