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London riots: residents fight back
The Telegraph ^ | 09 Aug 2011 | Martin Beckford, James Hall, Christopher Williams, David Millward

Posted on 08/09/2011 11:00:03 AM PDT by markomalley

Shops and homes in an upmarket area of south London were protected from rioters by a human barricade as residents and workers across the capital were forced to defend themselves.

Locals in Clapham Junction, Dalston and Whitechapel took to the streets and faced down the mob on Monday night after realising that police were too over-stretched to help.

In south London, officers were nowhere to be seen as shopfronts were smashed in St John’s Road, Clapham Junction.

But the gangs of youths were prevented from carrying on their rampage south into Northcote Road, site of restaurants - specialist food stores and boutiques - by locals who guarded the top of the street from a branch of Nando’s to the Northcote pub.

A core of 20 people gathered at the junction, with up to 50 at some points, from just after 9pm until close to 11pm.

John Comyn, who has lived in the area all his life, said: “Most people I spoke to were local and couldn't believe what was happening. No one wanted to venture down St John's Road but we weren't going to let them ruin our street.

“From then on, when anyone came towards us we told them to go back, there wasn't anything for them down here. It was fairly spontaneous but the group formed a line across the end of the road.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: england; raceriots; riots; uk; unitedkingdom
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

That is pretty cool!

A little metal “trim” in the form of rows of metal pyramids around the bat, would go a long way toward enhancing both its appearance and utility...


41 posted on 08/09/2011 12:07:47 PM PDT by Little Ray (Best Conservative in the Primary; AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: dfwgator
Always nice to have a 16 Ton weight handy

Very convenient when defending yourself against a person armed with a raspberry.


42 posted on 08/09/2011 12:10:24 PM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
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To: Little Ray

Too bad there aren’t lots of archery fans in the UK. A few arrows into a rioting crowd would do wonders. No muzzle flash or bang to give away your position. From a window in a darkened room at night, it would be hard to tell exactly where the arrow came from...


43 posted on 08/09/2011 12:13:41 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (When you've only heard lies your entire life, the truth sounds insane.)
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To: AppyPappy

Yes, since the police were telling them to not bring their weapons out in the street, but they were allowed to defend themselves inside their premises.


44 posted on 08/09/2011 12:14:14 PM PDT by DejaJude
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To: DejaJude

I noticed that too. “had it out” hmmmm.....


45 posted on 08/09/2011 12:14:24 PM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: Little Ray
I think they brought sticks, gardening tools and cooking utensils.

I have several gardening tools in my garage that would make dandy weapons for close-in self defense.

Firearms are better, of course.

46 posted on 08/09/2011 12:15:05 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: BlueLancer

She’s a southpaw.


47 posted on 08/09/2011 12:19:25 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: Little Ray

I keep a nice piece of pipe in the car and truck for “checking the tires”.

Proper heft and balance are important to check the tires correctly.


48 posted on 08/09/2011 12:19:50 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (Half the people are below average.)
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To: mbynack

LOL!!! We have a Mossberg 500 tactical. There is nothing to compete with the sound of racking that thing.


49 posted on 08/09/2011 12:25:15 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: markomalley

What about pointy sticks?


50 posted on 08/09/2011 12:28:45 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: TexasRepublic
The whole article is worth reading. Some of the foreign communities in London, such as the Turks, have not forgotten how to defend themselves.

Not just the Turks. I have several young (mid to late 20's) friends in London, all with jobs. The are wielding cricket bats and pipes against the anarchists. As one said "It's been quite the ruckus". The a@@holes in the masks apparently didn't expect a bunch of REAL Brits on the streets tonight.

51 posted on 08/09/2011 12:34:09 PM PDT by ScreamingFist (Quiet the Idiot)
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To: PapaBear3625

Shooting through a window, I think a crossbow would be a lot easier to use. But I suspect they’re just as illegal in UK as any other effective weapon.


52 posted on 08/09/2011 12:36:49 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: markomalley

Those residents better be careful not to hurt any of those rioters because English law protects the criminal elements of their society.


53 posted on 08/09/2011 12:38:16 PM PDT by SkyDancer (You know, they invented wheelbarrows to teach government employees how to walk on their hind legs.)
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To: ArrogantBustard

One of most deadly weapons of the Middle Ages, the Bill, was also used for pruning trees...
It’s essentially a short sword blade on the end of the pole...


54 posted on 08/09/2011 12:46:30 PM PDT by Little Ray (Best Conservative in the Primary; AGAINST Obama in the General.)
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To: PapaBear3625

Another use for duct tape!


55 posted on 08/09/2011 1:02:21 PM PDT by algernonpj (He who pays the piper . . .)
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To: ScreamingFist
Not just the Turks. I have several young (mid to late 20's) friends in London, all with jobs. The are wielding cricket bats and pipes against the anarchists. As one said "It's been quite the ruckus". The a@@holes in the masks apparently didn't expect a bunch of REAL Brits on the streets tonight.

London riots: residents fight back
56 posted on 08/09/2011 1:12:24 PM PDT by algernonpj (He who pays the piper . . .)
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To: algernonpj

OOPS

Meant to post companion link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8690602/London-riots-kitchen-staff-at-Notting-Hill-restaurant-The-Ledbury-protect-diners-with-rolling-pins.html

“The unknown blogger added: “The kitchen staff at the Ledbury went beyond their call of duty by rushing up from the kitchen with rolling pins, fry baskets, and other dangerous kitchen tools and scared off the looters.”


57 posted on 08/09/2011 1:17:21 PM PDT by algernonpj (He who pays the piper . . .)
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To: Sherman Logan

Crossbows are 100% legal here


58 posted on 08/09/2011 1:17:56 PM PDT by Mitch86
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To: Sherman Logan

Incorrect. Crossbows are not illegal to own in the UK. My family and I own a variety of bows and crossbows.


59 posted on 08/09/2011 1:20:24 PM PDT by NikkiB
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To: Mitch86

Really, I’m quite surprised.

A few crossbow snipers on the roofs could really freak out a mob, I would think.

Anyway, thanks for the correction. I hope you’ll pardon me for pointing out that any government that allows crossbows but outlaws scary looking knives is a little weird, IMO.

Although it’s also fair to point out that any equivalent level of rioting in the US would have had dozens if not hundreds of fatalities to date, while that in the UK had had one.


60 posted on 08/09/2011 1:25:41 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
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