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Shops and cars torched in Salford and Manchester Riots: Manchester and Salford disorder brings "shame on streets"
(40 minutes later)
Crowds of youths have set fire to buildings and cars in Manchester and Salford. Hundreds of rioters have brought "shame on the streets of Salford and Manchester," Greater Manchester's assistant chief constable has said.
One crowd marched into Salford's main shopping centre and began smashing shop windows and stealing alcohol. Fire bombs have been thrown at shops and looters have stolen clothes, electrical items and alcohol.
A separate crowd in Manchester's Market Street has set fire to a Miss Selfridge shop. They then moved on to damage and loot other stores. ACC Garry Shewan said: "This has been senseless violence and senseless criminality of a scale I have never experienced in my career before."
Greater Manchester Police has confirmed that 15 people have been arrested so far. Police have arrested 47 people and he said more would follow.
BBC Radio Manchester's radio car was set on fire in Salford and a TV cameramen attacked. 'Senseless violence'
It was reported that cheers went up from the crowd of about 200, some of whom carried sticks, as the window was smashed of the Bang & Olufsen store, off King Street, in Manchester. Mr Shewan added: "Over the past few hours, Greater Manchester Police has been faced with extraordinary levels of violence from groups of criminals intent on committing widespread disorder.
'Completely looted' "This is nothing more than senseless violence with no absolutely no regard for people, their property or livelihoods.
Looters carried out a widescreen TV while others took smaller electrical items. "These criminals have also attacked some of my officers and other emergency services who are simply trying to do their job to keep the public safe and restore order.
One eyewitness told the BBC News Channel: "It's kicking off now the police are running at me. The police are coming at us now with batons." "These people have nothing to protest against - there is no sense of injustice or any spark that has led to this."
In Salford, another eye witness, Tom Steedman, said: "A big group of rioters started attacking some police who were defending the Lidl store. The violence started at Salford precinct in the middle of the afternoon, where rioters attacked police and set fire to shops.
"They actually managed to drive the police back who are now nowhere in sight. They then proceeded to smash through all the shutters on the store. It's been completely looted and then they set the store on fire."
At the sound of police sirens the crowds in Manchester, which included small children on bikes, dispersed down side streets, but reconvened to march down Princess Street towards John Dalton Street.
Looters then ransacked the Tesco Express store on Princess Street.
Large groups of people also gathered along Deansgate with looters helping themselves to bottles of alcohol from Sainsbury's Local at the corner of Bridge Street.
'Hundreds of kids'
Gary Gray, who lives in Manchester city centre, said he watched as crowds headed towards him and broke into shops.
"There's hundreds of kids here. I have not seen much looting, but people are just breaking stuff rather than taking things," he said.
"There's way more of them than there are police. There's no way that the police can control it.
"The mob are turning on other people too. I got chased for taking pictures with my phone. They're chasing other people who are taking pictures and I saw a couple of students getting mugged."
BBC North West Tonight's political correspondent Arif Ansari said a cameraman was set upon just before crowds began attacking a Bargain Booze store and The Money Shop in Salford.BBC North West Tonight's political correspondent Arif Ansari said a cameraman was set upon just before crowds began attacking a Bargain Booze store and The Money Shop in Salford.
The radio car was set alight along with a vehicle belonging to a reporter. No radio journalists have been injured. BBC Radio Manchester's Richard Stead, who was also at the scene, said: said: "The tension is palpable and there is another group of 12 and 13-year-olds on bikes looking on."
The old library building and some council offices in Salford have also been set alight. A BBC radio car was set alight, as was a car belonging to a reporter.
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 said hundreds of riot police had attempted to move crowds on.
Our correspondent said the crowds responsible for the damage in Salford Precinct had gathered earlier on a roundabout nearby 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.
"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 GMP had deployed six Tactical Aid Unit vehicles to the area where about 100 spectators, including women and children, had gathered.
He said: "The tension is palpable and there is another group of 12 and 13-year-olds on bikes looking on."
'Wanton violence'
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."
Police, politicians and community leaders all pleaded for Greater Manchester not to get involved in riots but shops, businesses and cars are burning.Police, politicians and community leaders all pleaded for Greater Manchester not to get involved in riots but shops, businesses and cars are burning.
As I pulled up by Salford precinct, I was greeted by crowds of young people - some as young as 10 or 11. Seconds later cars screeched by as young boys pulled wheelies on motorbikes.As I pulled up by Salford precinct, I was greeted by crowds of young people - some as young as 10 or 11. Seconds later cars screeched by as young boys pulled wheelies on motorbikes.
Within minutes of leaving my car and standing by BBC Radio Manchester's radiocar, bricks were hurled at myself and a colleague. We took cover by the empty markets.Within minutes of leaving my car and standing by BBC Radio Manchester's radiocar, bricks were hurled at myself and a colleague. We took cover by the empty markets.
We were lucky not to get hit and managed to run round the corner where there was a line of police officers wearing riot gear. They were trying to protect the firefighters who had just doused the flames that had ripped through the old library right next to the precinct.We were lucky not to get hit and managed to run round the corner where there was a line of police officers wearing riot gear. They were trying to protect the firefighters who had just doused the flames that had ripped through the old library right next to the precinct.
Gangs cheered as the radiocar went up in flames. The police lines moved forward and as we left more rocks and bricks were thrown at officers.Gangs cheered as the radiocar went up in flames. The police lines moved forward and as we left more rocks and bricks were thrown at officers.
Youngsters seemed unaware of the danger they were in as they took pictures on their mobile phones to post on social networking sites.Youngsters seemed unaware of the danger they were in as they took pictures on their mobile phones to post on social networking sites.
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. Eyewitness Tom Steedman said: "A big group of rioters started attacking some police who were defending the Lidl store.
One eyewitness to the incident, which is believed to have involved 12 officers with riot shields and batons, said youths had been throwing bricks. "They actually managed to drive the police back who are now nowhere in sight. They then proceeded to smash through all the shutters on the store. It's been completely looted and then they set the store on fire."
Another eyewitness said: "The cops have been fast enough to stop things and nothing really is happening now." The rioting later spread to the city centre, with Miss Selfridge in Market Street being set alight.
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". Crowds had gathered around Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens from late afternoon ahead of disorder in Market Street.
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 Arndale Centre in the city centre closed early after a gang of about 25 youths ran in and attempted to break down the shutters of JD Sports.
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.
Police have since cordoned off areas around the Arndale.Police have since cordoned off areas around the Arndale.
Glen Barkworth general manger of the centre said: "What I've seen is that the rioters have split themselves into numerous groups doing damage all over the [city] centre.Glen Barkworth general manger of the centre said: "What I've seen is that the rioters have split themselves into numerous groups doing damage all over the [city] centre.
"There are substantial frustrations about that, but there's bigger frustration about the youth of today.""There are substantial frustrations about that, but there's bigger frustration about the youth of today."
An amusement arcade in Piccadilly Gardens has been plundered and a jewellery shop in Shudehill was also raided with part of its metal shutter mangled. Gary Gray, who lives in the city centre, said he watched as crowds headed towards him and broke into shops.
Mounted officers have been guarding Exchange Square, and have formed a ring of protection around Market Street. He said: "There's way more of them than there are police. There's no way that the police can control it.
St Ann's Square and Deansgate have also been blocked off, along with a section of Cross Street. "The mob are turning on other people too. I got chased for taking pictures with my phone. They're chasing other people who are taking pictures and I saw a couple of students getting mugged."
Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "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." No buses or trams
Other shops affected include the Bang and Olufsen store off King Street, Tesco Express in Princess Street, Sainsbury's Local in Bridge Street, as well as several in Deansgate and in Oxford Road.
Many city streets have been cordoned off or are being guarded by mounted officers, including Exchange Square, Market Street, St Ann's Square and Deansgate.
All trams and buses have been stopped from operating in the city.
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."