Police arrest 100 as rioting erupts in Birmingham
Police arrest 100 as rioting erupts in Birmingham
Rioting has erupted in Birmingham, with shop windows being smashed and stores being looted during what police described as "mindless thuggery".
A police station in Handsworth, nearly three miles out of the city centre, was later reported by police to be on fire.
Among the shops damaged was a city centre McDonald's restaurant and an Armani store at the Mailbox shopping centre which was looted.
Police said about 100 people had been arrested, many of them juveniles.
Eleven people have been taken to a number of hospitals in the city.
The disturbances started during the early evening. Later that evening, at 23.45 BST, West Midlands Police confirmed the police station in Holyhead Road was on fire.
'Twitter intelligence' The force also reported some of its cars had come under attack on Holyhead Road.
Ambulance crews said they had been called to 24 incidents - mostly treating people who had been assaulted.
Injuries included cuts and bruises to the head and a dislocated knee.
Police urged parents to contact their children and get them to return home.
The violence in Birmingham followed a third evening of rioting across London, with a number of fires being lit and stores being looted in a number of areas.
West Midlands Police said four people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, four for violent disorder and one for a breach of the peace.
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The Pandora jewellers shop in Birmingham city centre was attacked
West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe said she still had a significant number of officers in Birmingham city centre.
"There is still outbreaks of violence and looting of shops is still taking place," she said.
"We will continue to make arrests while this mindless thuggery takes place in our city centre. It is totally unacceptable."
She said her first priority was to bring calm back to the city centre and appealed to parents to phone their children and get them to come home.
Police had been aware of "Twitter intelligence" from lunchtime, suggesting there would be trouble in the city during the evening.
Ms Rowe said officers had worked with the council and emergency services to formalise a policing operation.
Police said officers were controlling access on some of the routes into Birmingham.
A heavy police presence has been seen in the city from late afternoon. Some shops in the city centre closed early amid rumours that trouble may break out.
BBC reporter Grant Sherlock said the window of Mills City Express store, in Colmore Row, was smashed by youths wielding a bin.
'Kicking motorcycles' He said some then ran into the store before emerging with goods in their hands.
Vans of police in riot gear soon arrived and the youths dispersed.
Soon after, another group broke through the metal security shutter of the Jessops store in Temple Row and cameras and electrical equipment were taken from inside, he said.
In New Street, a front window of the Adidas store was smashed and empty coat hangers littered the street outside.
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A BBC reporter said all clothes had been taken out the Armani store
Another eyewitness, Chris Scrivens, said youths were "running amok" in the grounds around the cathedral.
"I saw one guy put a window through of a shop. Another one picked up the debris.
"They were kicking over motorcycles," he said.
Police in riot gear were positioned in several parts of the city centre, with some advising onlookers to get off the streets.
Police have also asked people to think twice before calling emergency services with non-urgent calls as there is high demand for services.
Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, said it was "mindless criminality".
"Obviously we have to have a debate and consider whether there are underlying reasons and learn some of the lessons potentially from some of these incidents as well," she said.
"I think that's a debate for another day really because I think at the moment, the really important thing is that we need to support the police in the work they're doing."
Councillor Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of the city council, said the authority would make every effort possible from first light on Tuesday to clear up any damage and bring normality back to the city.
"To this end we'd stress to retailers, workers and shoppers alike that the city remains very much open for business and would encourage them to come in as normal tomorrow."
BBC News - Police arrest 100 as rioting erupts in Birmingham