London in Flames

LONDON: Hundreds of mostly young black men armed with makeshift missiles hurled bricks and aimed Molotov cocktails at riot police against a backdrop of burning vehicles and buildings in north London, as what began as a protest against police brutality became a riot.

Even though the totalitarian British Government has thrown a blanket over the events, it is emerging that the Metropolitan Police pulled over two Afro-Caribbean youths, made them lie on the ground, and shot one of them point-blank in the back of the head.

The violence erupted on Saturday night and Sunday morning following a protest over the fatal shooting.

Big Brother has warned against "ill-informed speculation" about more riots in other parts of London on Sunday evening. And, not to believe rumours.

"Throughout the day we have been monitoring social networking sites and I'd like to say right from the outset, we're conscious of some really ill-informed speculation on those sites relating to potential further problems."

Twenty-six officers and three others were wounded in the violence which broke out after a protest over the fatal shooting by police of 29-year-old Mark Duggan on Thursday.

During the riot people threw Molotov Cocktails, reducing many buildings and vehicles to charred wrecks.

A Molotov cocktail is a breakable bottle containing a flammable substance such as gasoline or a napalm-like mixture and usually a source of ignition such as a burning cloth wick held in place by the bottle's stopper. The wick is usually soaked in alcohol or kerosene, rather than gasoline.

In action, the wick is lit and the bottle hurled at a target such as a vehicle or fortification. When the bottle smashes on impact, the ensuing cloud of petrol droplets and vapour are ignited, causing an immediate fireball followed by a raging fire as the remainder of the fuel is consumed. Another method is to place a reactive substance in with the gasoline, and treat the label or wrapper paper with another chemical; when the bottle ruptures, the two chemicals mix and ignite; this is safer to handle if done properly, and does not betray the thrower with a visible flame prior to the throw.

Other flammable liquids such as methanol, turpentine and E85 have been used in place of gasoline. Thickening agents such as Styrofoam, tar, strips of tyre tubing, sugar, blood, XPS foam, egg whites, motor oil, rubber cement, and dish soap have been added to help the burning liquid adhere to the target and create clouds of thick, choking smoke.

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