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Riots: Gloucester police attacked with rocks and bottles | Riots: Gloucester police attacked with rocks and bottles |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Police officers came under attack from youths throwing rocks and bottles in Gloucester city centre on Tuesday. | |
Thirteen people including a girl, 16, were arrested following the disturbance which started at about 23:00 BST. | |
Assistant Chief Constable Ivor Twydell said: "Clearly the community is as appalled as we are about the behaviour of these mindless thugs." | |
Police have called for any visual evidence of the disturbances, such as photographs to be sent to the force. | |
'Well alight' | |
He said: "Our officers are working through a large amount of intelligence and information from the community and as a result a number of arrests will happen throughout the day and coming days." | |
One shop was looted at about 02:30 BST on Wednesday. The newsagent on Tredworth Road had cigarettes and alcohol stolen and considerable damage was caused to it, police said. | |
A 26-year-old man from Gloucester was arrested on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of burglary. | |
Fire crews were also involved in the incidents overnight and were called to tackle a blaze in Brunswick Road. | |
The fire was in a building previously used by Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology which has been empty since the college moved out in 2007. | The fire was in a building previously used by Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology which has been empty since the college moved out in 2007. |
A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said it had received a number of calls saying a fire had started at the back of the building, which was due to be demolished. | A Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said it had received a number of calls saying a fire had started at the back of the building, which was due to be demolished. |
"The indications were that it was a significant fire so we initially sent three fire engines... when crews arrived they were confronted by a developing fire in the 50m by 25m building," he said. | "The indications were that it was a significant fire so we initially sent three fire engines... when crews arrived they were confronted by a developing fire in the 50m by 25m building," he said. |
"The second floor was well alight." | "The second floor was well alight." |
'War zone' | 'War zone' |
The spokesman said 40 firefighters had worked for two hours to bring the blaze under control. | The spokesman said 40 firefighters had worked for two hours to bring the blaze under control. |
More than 100 firefighters tackled various fires in the city centre, he said. | More than 100 firefighters tackled various fires in the city centre, he said. |
Police said they dealt with up to 60 people on the streets in the city centre - many with their faces covered. | Police said they dealt with up to 60 people on the streets in the city centre - many with their faces covered. |
Shop windows were attacked and bins set on fire in the Barton Street area. | Shop windows were attacked and bins set on fire in the Barton Street area. |
One woman who lives above a Coral bookmakers and did not want to be named, described the moment about 30 people targeted the shop. | One woman who lives above a Coral bookmakers and did not want to be named, described the moment about 30 people targeted the shop. |
"I woke up with the room moving and that shows how hard they were kicking the glass," she said. | "I woke up with the room moving and that shows how hard they were kicking the glass," she said. |
"I looked down and they looked up but I didn't want to grab my phone straight away because they might have attacked. | "I looked down and they looked up but I didn't want to grab my phone straight away because they might have attacked. |
"They were only interested in smashing up the glass. I didn't see their faces because they were all wearing balaclavas or scarves over their faces. | "They were only interested in smashing up the glass. I didn't see their faces because they were all wearing balaclavas or scarves over their faces. |
"It's just unbelievable. It was like a war zone down here. It was just horrendous. I have never seen anything like it." | "It's just unbelievable. It was like a war zone down here. It was just horrendous. I have never seen anything like it." |
Clean-up | |
A police spokeswoman said support had been called upon from colleagues in the Avon and Somerset force. | A police spokeswoman said support had been called upon from colleagues in the Avon and Somerset force. |
Earlier in the day, 22 Gloucestershire Police officers were dispatched to London to help the Metropolitan Police deal with anticipated violence. | Earlier in the day, 22 Gloucestershire Police officers were dispatched to London to help the Metropolitan Police deal with anticipated violence. |
The force spokeswoman said contingency plans had been in place in the county so their absence did not have a significant impact. | The force spokeswoman said contingency plans had been in place in the county so their absence did not have a significant impact. |
On Wednesday morning, a county council spokesman said the clean-up operation was complete. | On Wednesday morning, a county council spokesman said the clean-up operation was complete. |
In a joint statement, Paul James, the leader of Gloucester City Council, and Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Let's be clear - we will come down hard on these people." | |
Detectives are appealing for anyone with photographs or video of the disorder to contact them. | Detectives are appealing for anyone with photographs or video of the disorder to contact them. |