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Shops smashed and BBC cameraman attacked in Salford Shops and cars torched in Salford and Manchester
(about 1 hour later)
A group of young people have marched into Salford's shopping centre and begun smashing shop windows and taking alcohol, BBC Radio Manchester said. Crowds of youths have set fire to buildings and cars in Manchester and Salford.
A separate crowd of up to 80 people with faces covered by balaclavas and hoods gathered to the north of Salford Precinct in a stand-off with police. One crowd marched into Salford's main shopping centre and began smashing shop windows and stealing alcoholic drinks.
BBC political correspondent Arif Ansari said his cameraman had been attacked. A separate crowd in Manchester's Market Street has set fire to a Miss Selfridge shop.
He said that crowds had smashed a Bargain Booze store and another shop and were taking alcohol. A BBC radio car has been set alight in Salford and a TV camerman has been attacked.
BBC political correspondent Arif Ansari said his cameraman was set upon just before crowds began attacking a Bargain Booze store and The Money Shop in Salford Precinct
The radio car, belonging to BBC Radio Manchester, was set on fire along with a vehicle belonging to a station reporter. No radio journalists have been injured.
The old library building in Salford has also been set alight.
Crowds had gathered around Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens from late afternoon ahead of the disorder in Market Street near the landmark Primark store.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has stopped all trams and buses from operating in the city and hundreds of riot police have attempted to move crowds on.
'It is hostile''It is hostile'
Mr Ansari said that the crowds responsible for the damage had gathered earlier on a roundabout to the south of the precinct and then moved in, chanting as they went. Ansari said that the crowds responsible for the damage in Salford Precinct had gathered earlier on a roundabout to the south of the precinct and then moved in, chanting as they went.
He said: "I'm just shaken because my cameraman has just been attacked and there's no police presence here.He said: "I'm just shaken because my cameraman has just been attacked and there's no police presence here.
"They're now looting Bargain Booze and there's a very large crowd here and it is hostile.""They're now looting Bargain Booze and there's a very large crowd here and it is hostile."
BBC reporter Richard Stead, who witnessed the stand-off at the north of the precinct, said that Greater Manchester Police had deployed six Tactical Aid Unit vehicles to the area where about 100 spectators, including women and children, had gathered. BBC reporter Richard Stead, who witnessed the stand-off at the north of the precinct, said GMP had deployed six Tactical Aid Unit vehicles to the area where about 100 spectators, including women and children, had gathered.
'Reports exaggerated''Reports exaggerated'
But the force said in a Twitter feed: "Reports of a 'stand off' between gangs and police in Salford exaggerated. 20 or so youths dispersed by police - one brick thrown, no injuries."But the force said in a Twitter feed: "Reports of a 'stand off' between gangs and police in Salford exaggerated. 20 or so youths dispersed by police - one brick thrown, no injuries."
A security spokesman at Salford Precinct said a group of 20 younger children had rampaged through the shopping centre at about 15:20 BST, knocking over bins and shoplifting. A security spokesman at Salford Precinct said a group of 20 children had rampaged through the shopping centre at about 15:20 BST, knocking over bins and shoplifting.
One eyewitness to the stand-off, which is believed to have involved 12 officers with riot shields and batons, told BBC Radio Manchester that youths had been throwing bricks.One eyewitness to the stand-off, which is believed to have involved 12 officers with riot shields and batons, told BBC Radio Manchester that youths had been throwing bricks.
Another eyewitness said: "The cops have been fast enough to stop things and nothing really is happening now."Another eyewitness said: "The cops have been fast enough to stop things and nothing really is happening now."
Reporter Richard Stead said: "The tension is palpable and there is another group of 12 and 13-year-olds on bikes looking on." Arndale closed
Stead said: "The tension is palpable and there is another group of 12 and 13-year-olds on bikes looking on."
Salford and Eccles Labour MP Hazel Blears said she had been told by GMP that it was determined to "nip the disorder in the bud".
She said: "In the past we have had anti-social behaviour out of control, but we got a grip of that and this behaviour is just mindless and pointless.
"The vast majority of people are great citizens in Salford and Eccles."
The Arndale Centre in Manchester city centre closed early after a gang of about 25 youths ran in and attempted to break down the shutters of JD Sports.
An Arndale spokesman said: "They realised they couldn't get in and they ran straight out again."
'Wanton violence'
Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "Greater Manchester Police has been engaged with dealing with outbreaks of minor disorder in Salford and Manchester city centre this afternoon, involving a small number of youths.
"A handful of shops have been attacked by groups of youths who have congregated and seem intent on committing disorder.
"As we have said, we will not allow such mindless criminal damage and wanton violence to go unpunished and we will arrest and prosecute anyone found to be involved in looting or acts of criminal damage."
He said more officers were on the ground responding to any incidents and dispersing any groups of youths before they commited any crimes.
There had also been a number of arrests.