North London Riots

[GrooveMan.exe]

Let's avoid continuing a "FUCK YOU""NO YOU""NO YOU" argument. You're both warned.

Being told by someone unaffected that the situation me and my friends are in is less important or silly is incredibly fucking aggravating and insensitive.

At any rate, I've been catching up on the news reports I missed, and there's been additional detail on the initial shooting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2011/a...NETTXT3487

Expedited forensic tests are being carried out on the handgun found at the scene of Duggan's fatal shooting and bullets fired by the police. It is understood that ballistics experts have established that the firearm being carried in the minicab was a lethal weapon. It was a handgun which once in its life had not been capable of firing – a replica, a starting pistol or a collector's weapon. But the firearm had been converted – as many illegal firearms purchased on the street are – in order to carry live ammunition.

The IPCC has said that they hope to have a fuller ballistics picture within 24 hours. But it is understood to be a complex picture, involving a number of tests to establish trajectory of bullets and how many were fired.

According to Sky the C019 firearms officer has said that he never claimed Duggan had shot at him.

The firearms officer is understood to have told investigators that he opened fire because he believed he was in danger from a lethal weapon. Two shots were fired, it is understood; one hit Duggan and one missed lodging in another officer's radio.

Forensic tests will establish finally whether Duggan fired his weapon at all during the attempted arrest on Thursday evening.

Rachel Cerfontyne, the IPCC commissioner in charge of the independent investigation into Duggan's fatal shooting said: "IPCC investigators are currently liaising with scientists at the Forensic Science Service regarding analysis on ballistics. We would anticipate being in a position to share verified results within the next 24 hours."

The officer has quite clearly broken protocol, even if he might have done so with good intentions. At this point, the case might be buried over the other crimes caused by the riots. There's been rumour and suggestion of getting water cannons and even the goddamn army involved, and I honestly hope that's not true. If they do, the injury and fatality count's gonna climb quickly - for rioters, police, and general citizens.

In better news, there are now flashmobs starting that are cleaning up the riot zones:

It's a bit short-sighted, but it's nice that there are people who want to help.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011...n-clean-up