LONDON – Rioting broke out in the English cities of Liverpool and Birmingham as the worst violence in London in years threatened to spread to the rest of the country on Tuesday.
West Midlands Police confirmed they had made 87 arrests as youths ran amok in Birmingham centre
overnight, smashing shop windows and looting merchandise.
The force also said that a police station in the central England city was on fire.
Meanwhile, Merseyside Police confirmed Tuesday they were dealing with unrest in the northwestern city of Liverpool with several cars set alight.
“We will not tolerate any violence on the streets of Liverpool and have taken swift and robust action in response,” police spokesman Andy Ward said.
Riots have been ongoing in London since Saturday night after protests against the death of a man in a police shooting turned violent, but Monday saw an escalation in hostilities.
Fire engulfed many areas of the capital as police fought pitched battles with thousands of looters and gangs of youths in the third day of serious disorder.
