Police calm London, but riots flare across UK

London, Aug 10: London remained largely quiet with a heavy police presence on the streets but unrest spread across central and northern England on a fourth night of violence that has blighted the David Cameron government's image and ability to hold the 2012 London Olympics safely.

With 16,000 police officers deployed in London, the streets remained calm after three previous nights of rioting. But there was unrest in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham with shops being looted and set alight.

So far 768 people have been arrested and 105 charged in connection with violence in the capital, BBC reported.

As riots prompted questions inside and outside Britain about London's ability to hold the 2012 Olympics, Home Secretary Theresa May said the security plans for the mega sporting event will be reviewed.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said a 26-year-old man shot in a car during riots in Croydon has died in hospital, becoming the second victim after 29-year-old Mark Duggan, whose death in police firing on Thursday had sparked the riots.

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

Cameron yesterday called an emergency day-long session of the parliament tomorrow to discuss the situation and steps to defuse the crisis following three days of "sickening" rioting on the streets of London.

Talking tough, the Prime Minister, who rushed home after cutting short his vacation in Italy, said the culprits will be brought to bear the consequences of their actions and the government was determined to see that justice is delivered to the law abiding citizens.

PTI