Key Stories

LIVE: Birmingham Riots 2011

8th August 2011 | Chris Hutchinson (@chrishutchinson)

Riot Live Coverage (08/08/11)

Latest from the second day of riots

On Saturday 6th August a peaceful demonstration was held following the fatal shooting of a suspected criminal-gang member, Mark Duggan, by police. The protest marked the beginnings of widespread riots, leading to criminal damage, theft and vandalism in several London boroughs. Following warnings sent through BBM and Twitter, the rioting has now spread to Birmingham. Read the latest as it happens HERE.

Contents:
Timeline
#BirminghamRiots feed
Exclusive comment from MP Gisela Stuart
#RiotCleanup feed
Update on Riot Cleanup from Caroline Mortimer
Yesterdays Coverage
Post Riot Summation
Map
Video Coverage from David Glenwright
Photos on the ground
Feed Close

The 2nd day of riots (August 9th) Timeline

6.32 Riot vans at the mailbox
6.40 Bullring broken into
7.02 Riot police presence in Wolverhampton evident
7.11 Shop fronts smashed in Newhall Street
7.16 Reports of 200 people barging past passengers at New Street Station
7.20 Pallasades entrance to New St. & Livery St entrance to Snow Hill closed
7.25 Unrelated electrical fire in Harborne blockbuster
7.38 Fires reported at Moorstreet
7.52 Bullring made safe by police
7.55 WM Police arrest 3 people in the city centre
7.56 WM Police disperse mob in King’s Heath
8.05 Large groups reported in West Bromwich
8:06 Reports of a car on fire at Moorstreet
8:34 National Express say coaches will start to return to garages at 9:30pm
9.28 WM Police announce they have had 224 calls from the public this afternoon
9.31 Aston Expressway is all sealed up
9.36 WM Police announce they’ve made 170 arrests in last two days
10.22 Richer Sounds is looted
10.30 Reports of small damage to Iceland in Harborne
11.06 National Express announce suspension of all coaches into Birmingham
00.28 Firearm reportedly discharged at a policeman in Aston

#BirminghamRiots

 

Exclusive
Comment from Gisela Stuart MP Birmingham Edgbaston

This is violence and criminal behaviour for which there is simply no excuse. Individuals have to take responsibility for their actions. The community must support local police and parents have a responsibility for their children.

If anyone has grievances, there are ways to deal with these. Looting, fire,  breaking windows, causing fear – besmirches the reputation of Birmingham. Those who have been out on the streets causing trouble should be ashamed. They will experience the full force of the law.

Twitter Coverage
Tweets on todays cleanup (#riotcleanup)

 

Update

At 4:30pm (09/08/11) from correspondent Caroline Mortimer

Clean operations were under way in Birmingham City Centre today after a night of rioting and looting.
Although early reports of Primark being burned are untrue, many stores on New Street, Corporation Street and the surrounding area have been boarded up and others such as Adidas and Santander are being treated as crime scenes as forensic teams look for clues as to who was behind the damage to the break ins and lootings.
Speaking to Redbrick and Channel 5 News outside an Adidas store which had been emptied on New Street, Cllr Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council called for calm and for people not to jump to conclusions about the part played by racial tensions. He claimed he spoke to a number of people from several different ethnic minorities who were involved in the clean up to prove that they as a group did not condone the violence.
‘This is not about race or about social cohesion. This is people taking advantage of fragility in society.’ He said ‘Till 4pm Birmingham was at its best. This was not a philosophical crusade, its an act of criminality. We must be clear that this is a minority of people and Birmingham is a peaceful city’.
On why the riots have moved from London to Birmingham he added that ‘Tottenham was a catalyst but this is a copycat riot’ and noted that it was almost ‘violence for violence’s sake’.
He later said that ‘Social harmony is probably at its best in Birmingham compared with tensions in other cities’.
There was also bad damage to a Santander store near Victoria Square that had been cordoned off. A policewoman confirmed that money had been taken from the premises and there was an attempt to break into the cash machine on the shop front. She would not confirm whether this was successful or how much money was taken from the store. She said there weren’t enough police on duty to stop the spread of the riots but the police had taken the rumours of the riots seriously.
Nick Robinson, 22, who works at the Yenton pub in Erdington, told Redbrick how the police had shut down the pub early due to fears the violence would spread. He said he’d heard rumours that ‘EDL type people looking for violence rather than redemption’ were responsible but this is unconfirmed.
Reports from social media claim that shops in Birmingham City Centre will be shutting early tonight as a precaution against further rioting.

 

Live Coverage (08/08/11)

 

Latest
How the violence developed throughout the evening.

Afternoon: Suggestions that Birmingham would be the next site of riots through Blackberry Messenger and Twitter.
7.30pm: Rioting begins in Birmingham. Police cordon off and guard Pallasades shopping centre, central Birmingham.
7:49pm: City centre branch of T-Mobile reported looted.
8:10pm: New Street Station and bus services halted. Reports around this time that taxis were also avoiding city centre.
8:49pm: First reports of disorder in Handsworth, Kings Heath.
9:02pm: Reported crowds at the Mailbox, city centre.
9:12pm: Broadway Plaza closed.
9:20pm: Read more...

Interactive Map

How the violence spread throughout Birmingham throughout the evening

View The Birmingham Riots in a larger map

 

Video
Dave Glenwright briefly reports for Redbrick from Harborne on the evening's events

 

Photos
A collection of photo's from the evening's events

 

Update
Tuesday, 9th August 2011 - 2:40am
The situation appears to have calmed in Birmingham, without much news coming in, so we will shortly be shutting down the live feed. However, we will continue to update our Twitter @RedbrickPaper with important breaking news. Redbrick will have a full writeup tomorrow following the police press conference.

Thanks to Chris Hutchinson, Vicki Bull, Glen Moutrie, Sam Lear, Freddie Herzog, Nick Petrie, Jeremy Levett and Dave Glenwright for their work tonight.

See the Redbrick site for more about the riots, including photos, a link to the #BirminghamRiots twitter feed, a minute-by minute account of the riots as they developed, and accompanying map plotting the hot spots in Birmingham. http://www.redbrickpaper.co.uk/2011/08/live-birmingham-riots-2011/

Thanks very much to our readers for all their comments and contributions, and we hope not to have to do this again soon.

Twitter - @RedbrickPaper
Facebook - Redbrick Newspaper
Online - www.redbrickpaper.co.uk



Discussion

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← Older Comments
  • Introspectionist

    No i think it is people who think like you who give evidence for evolution. How did someone as intellectually primative as you find their way onto a computer? :S

  • Nonehexen

    This is about looting, pillage and black and asian gangs. The shooting of an armed black guy in London is a sorry excuse for justification. Rival gangs in London messaging each other to meet up and ‘get rich’ on blackberries. Hate to say it, Susan Smith has a good point. ‘Multicultural’ must be an oxymoron… Surely by it’s very nature a culture must be individualistic, in its own environment with its own people adhering to a singular way of living, therefore a multiculture has to be impossible. Throw cultures together and what has always happened? Civil war… YAY!

  • Happy2bhardc0re

    Does anyone have any factual news onBirmingham Childrens Hospital? I have family there and worried sick .B

    • Jake birmingham

      childrens hospital is ok.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aftab-Khalid-Ahmed/519736674 Aftab Khalid Ahmed

    soho rd hit bad, electro centre, lloyds bank, gold shops

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aftab-Khalid-Ahmed/519736674 Aftab Khalid Ahmed

    wickes on soho rd birmingham hit with looting

  • Ironmaiden45

     there are riots close to me

  • Johnflanghan

    bring on the riots

  • Johnflanghan

    bring on the riots

  • Johnflanghan

    i think police have onced again missused their force regarding of what tha young men that got shot,we need to let them know that its not appreciated to missuse yur force or power in a way to kill some1.stay safe all.

  • Nonehexen

    This is about looting, pillage and black and asian gangs. The shooting of an armed black guy in London is a sorry excuse for justification. Rival gangs in London messaging each other to meet up and ‘get rich’ on blackberries. ‘Multicultural’ must be an oxymoron… Surely by it’s very nature a culture must be individualistic, in its own environment with its own people adhering to a singular way of living, therefore a multiculture has to be impossible. Throw cultures together and what has always happened? Civil war… YAY!

  • Nonehexen

    This is about looting, pillage and black and asian gangs. The shooting of an armed black guy in London is a sorry excuse for justification. Rival gangs in London messaging each other to meet up and ‘get rich’ on blackberries. ‘Multicultural’ must be an oxymoron… Surely by it’s very nature a culture must be individualistic, in its own environment with its own people adhering to a singular way of living, therefore a multiculture has to be impossible. Throw cultures together and what has always happened? Civil war… YAY!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Aftab-Khalid-Ahmed/519736674 Aftab Khalid Ahmed

    its not just black and asian gangs, trying to palm these stupid actions again on the minoritys so to speak, if you really look into it its european(white) involed aswell

    • Nonehexen

      Involved, yes.  Instigators? Watch the news in the next few weeks.  As for ‘really looking into it’ have you?  Indeed, has anyone yet?  Has there been time to ‘really look into it’?  Check out the forthcoming ‘Blackberry’ investigations and the Canadian owners about to give the UK instant message information.  I do hope you are right.

    • Nonehexen

      Involved, yes.  Instigators? Watch the news in the next few weeks.  As for ‘really looking into it’ have you?  Indeed, has anyone yet?  Has there been time to ‘really look into it’?  Check out the forthcoming ‘Blackberry’ investigations and the Canadian owners about to give the UK instant message information.  I do hope you are right.

    • Nonehexen

      Involved, yes.  Instigators? Watch the news in the next few weeks.  As for ‘really looking into it’ have you?  Indeed, has anyone yet?  Has there been time to ‘really look into it’?  Check out the forthcoming ‘Blackberry’ investigations and the Canadian owners about to give the UK instant message information.  I do hope you are right.

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  • http://twitter.com/gmoutrie Glen Moutrie

    Thank you for all of your comments. While we are currently moderating all of the comments, please keep your posts clean. Redbrick does not condone any form of racism.

  • http://twitter.com/gmoutrie Glen Moutrie

    Thank you for all of your comments. While we are currently moderating all of the comments, please keep your posts clean. Redbrick does not condone any form of racism.

  • Raad2k9

    Prime minister needs to bring in the military to the situation. Otherwise, this could really have big impact on future of birmingham. These teenage looters need to be taught a lesson. Parents are obviously responsible for extanded cause over night. If they had maintained discipline in their children, this wouldn’t have happened. They cannot blame the society/government for their actions.

  • Ronan73

    im a fairly  high bracket tax payer,never went to uni and iv never been unemployed.
    anyone who takes money from the taxpayer and doesnt give back is at fault to how broken our country is.
    for people blaming illegals and the unemployed, have you forgotten about the student riots????who payed to clear that up???
    its the hard working tax payer that should be rioting.we get taxed everywhere we turn so people who have never contributed to society can run rampage.
    its beyond a joke and im all for the army,because at the end of the day im paying for them.

  • hzgdsuydcshgcks jbdvkusygc

    this is really bad !!!!

  • hzgdsuydcshgcks jbdvkusygc

    this is really bad !!!!

  • hzgdsuydcshgcks jbdvkusygc

    this is really bad !!!!

  • hzgdsuydcshgcks jbdvkusygc

    this is really bad !!!!

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

    • JenJen

      So every student is a “posh snob” right?! I’m from a working class family, raised by grandparents on a pension & I put myself through university by working two jobs (3 in the summer holidays). Am I a posh snob? No. I’m a hard working woman who has worked her backside off to get a good job so I can pay ridiculously high taxes every month to support the dregs of society. The students on here are the ones who’ll be funding your benefits. Remember that. And if all else fails get off a student newspaper site! 

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

  • Realist seer

    Don’t forget that these students pouring out all this mindless right wing nonsense are the kind of thick moronic scum who come from posh homes in the south east of our country, who   vote Tory and went to private schools, who really should be ashamed of themselves for being so utterly obnoxious.  You lot should get out there and find out what it is to be broke and unable to pay the bills in Thatcher’s deskilled, jobless, dead end Britain, away from your pathetic posh snobs of parents. Grow up and preferably fuck right off out of the Midlands.

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  • Jon

    Think it shows more discipline is needed through childhood in Schools and at home.

  • Pingback: Why Has BlackBerry Been Blamed for the London Riots? | BlackBerry News from BlackBerryHandhelds.co.uk

  • Brummie Nick

    Talk of the town over in Sollihull says that Sollihull will be targeted by the rioters tonight(9th August).Be careful people around there.

  • Brummie Nick

    Talk of the town over in Sollihull says that Sollihull will be targeted by the rioters tonight(9th August).Be careful people around there.

  • Brummie Nick

    Talk of the town over in Sollihull says that Sollihull will be targeted by the rioters tonight(9th August).Be careful people around there.

  • Brummie Nick

    Talk of the town over in Sollihull says that Sollihull will be targeted by the rioters tonight(9th August).Be careful people around there.

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  • guest

    What is happening near wolverhampton road?

  • guest

    What is happening near wolverhampton road?

  • Sabar

    Fink you manz dissin da riotaz BIG UP UB2 ENDZ REPPN THEM
    STREETS AND MERKN MANDEMS like MAD. Big UP Gritsettt! BOYS TILL DAY AND
    shankn mandems sinceee dayyy. wwagwn u pussioles. u kl? you mandem fink
    you can touch us? tw1 Massive. you got no idea.. We toold up like mad.
    we drop bars like we on a hype ting. u hear me now? u think ur racis
    hype touch us ? u man dumb? come to 85 bus anytime back of the buss..
    WE’D Merkkk u . come to rangers parkk we chiln with mak 10′s and
    shooters like it aint a fing. the hood ere is real. u pussioles hide
    behind ur compoters like u got saiiing to say. Wagwwn then COME hype to
    manz like you do on ur pc. COME HYPE TO ME. Come to my endz and say my
    name . Skepta or Griminall IM king of grime i get hoes like wagwn ting, u
    get me? i get p like im the king of grime. i shift draw like man dont
    care of the po po so Fuck u. We hood out here alie and im fire alie some
    mans step up to me and i say Im fire alie coz we merk manz alie. I got 2
    hands on a 9 like its quatre to 10 so we merk ur lives blud. bruv just
    now who we are bludddddd. WE MERKK THEM MANS AND HOES LIKE PAPER. so
    fuck u puusioless. Bruverzz ere r rough. so yo im off to merk more
    pussioles. London 4 lyfe hood till i die MERK til i cant merk no more .
    Man wants to just talk SWINGERS . U GET ME ?.

  • Sabar

    Fink you manz dissin da riotaz BIG UP UB2 ENDZ REPPN THEM
    STREETS AND MERKN MANDEMS like MAD. Big UP Gritsettt! BOYS TILL DAY AND
    shankn mandems sinceee dayyy. wwagwn u pussioles. u kl? you mandem fink
    you can touch us? tw1 Massive. you got no idea.. We toold up like mad.
    we drop bars like we on a hype ting. u hear me now? u think ur racis
    hype touch us ? u man dumb? come to 85 bus anytime back of the buss..
    WE’D Merkkk u . come to rangers parkk we chiln with mak 10′s and
    shooters like it aint a fing. the hood ere is real. u pussioles hide
    behind ur compoters like u got saiiing to say. Wagwwn then COME hype to
    manz like you do on ur pc. COME HYPE TO ME. Come to my endz and say my
    name . Skepta or Griminall IM king of grime i get hoes like wagwn ting, u
    get me? i get p like im the king of grime. i shift draw like man dont
    care of the po po so Fuck u. We hood out here alie and im fire alie some
    mans step up to me and i say Im fire alie coz we merk manz alie. I got 2
    hands on a 9 like its quatre to 10 so we merk ur lives blud. bruv just
    now who we are bludddddd. WE MERKK THEM MANS AND HOES LIKE PAPER. so
    fuck u puusioless. Bruverzz ere r rough. so yo im off to merk more
    pussioles. London 4 lyfe hood till i die MERK til i cant merk no more .
    Man wants to just talk SWINGERS . U GET ME ?.

    • JenJen

      I don’t think anyone on here actually ‘gets you’ sweetheart. If you could perhaps translate your diatribe into English we might stand a chance.

      I sincerely hope you were being ironic with that post

    • JenJen

      I don’t think anyone on here actually ‘gets you’ sweetheart. If you could perhaps translate your diatribe into English we might stand a chance.

      I sincerely hope you were being ironic with that post

    • JenJen

      I don’t think anyone on here actually ‘gets you’ sweetheart. If you could perhaps translate your diatribe into English we might stand a chance.

      I sincerely hope you were being ironic with that post

  • Zentax

    No one appears to have given a balanced view here, merely that they are “hoodlums” and require reprimanding. Do you not think that there has been an undercurrent of reasons as to why these riots are occurring, even if many of those involved do not fully understand why, or are just opportunists or criminals? Maybe it has something to do with the burgeoning population of inner city adolescents and young adults who have had a poorer level of education because of their location, have had a poorer standard of living because of their economic circumstance and have no means of accessing power or voicing there opinion to any reasonable effect. Whilst obviously you cannot condone violence and discussion is the most effective means of creating change, a lot of these people, if they are not opportunists, have not had an equal chance to create the change they desire both on an individual and communal scale. As such many involved in the riots have turned to it in a state of anarchy where they cannot adequately or meaningfully express their needs and their anger at the failure of the state to provide for them. Whilst the labour state did not in anyway convincingly provide for the aspirations or needs of inner city poor areas they at least attempted it, they’re failure over the last 15 or so years has left a lot of resentment and personally it feels like we were on a balancing point for some years, a tightrope of providing for our debt and providing for our communities. However since the conservatives have appeared they have tried to service the national debts winning middle Britain’s support. Therefore they have had to cut benefits, EMA, Jobseekers and many other benefits have been cut or plan to be this obviously will and has affected poorer communities especially those in cities the tipping point has finally come and these communities have reacted in a predictable manner, if you don’t give people a voice they’ll raise a fist and try to take yours.

  • 123

    yo people stop the violence! 2 human being have died! Fuck sake what is  wrong  with people?

  • A.T

    WHERE IN THIS ARTICLE DOES IT SAY THAT THE RIOTERS RAN OVER THREE PAKISTANI MUSLIM MEN IN BIRMINGHAM? THEY MURDERED THEM WHILST THEY WERE TRYING TO DEFEND THEIR COMMMUNITY AND MOSQUE. THEY WERE DOING THE POLICE’S JOB THEMSELVES AND THEY GOT MURDERED BY RIOTERS WHO RAN THEM OVER!!!!!

    WHERE THE HELL DOES IT SAY THIS IN THIS ARTICLE?

    THIS PAGE IS MEANT TO UPDATE PEOPLE ON THE BIRMINGHAM RIOTS  and it shouldnt afford to be so selective in what it says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • A.T

    WHERE IN THIS ARTICLE DOES IT SAY THAT THE RIOTERS RAN OVER THREE PAKISTANI MUSLIM MEN IN BIRMINGHAM? THEY MURDERED THEM WHILST THEY WERE TRYING TO DEFEND THEIR COMMMUNITY AND MOSQUE. THEY WERE DOING THE POLICE’S JOB THEMSELVES AND THEY GOT MURDERED BY RIOTERS WHO RAN THEM OVER!!!!!

    WHERE THE HELL DOES IT SAY THIS IN THIS ARTICLE?

    THIS PAGE IS MEANT TO UPDATE PEOPLE ON THE BIRMINGHAM RIOTS  and it shouldnt afford to be so selective in what it says!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • I am white

    Prat

  • Acox

    we never say what we are really thinking when commenting…it was/is plain stupid to even consider that this was all about a grievance……it WAS about organised looting an xreating unrest in communitys…what sense is there to destroy a shop in your own community only to find you need it the next day to buy something doh!!!….my opinions/thoughts are warn twice then shoot to wound…you would be suprised how soon it would stop….i feel for police officers that go out leaving there familes and risking there lives..I DO NOT care for DRUGS and DRUG DEALERS..

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