Context
Raging fires and rampant looting on Monday engulfed parts of London as the spate of unrest continued in the capital for the third successive day. Riots were reported in a district not far from the shiny stadiums and athletes’ village being constructed for the Olympic Games 2012. Over 160 people were arrested during the weekend after two days of clashes left numerous neighborhoods severely damaged. The violence erupted on Saturday night when a black resident was shot dead by police probing gun crimes in North London’s Tottenham area.
Reportedly, social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook were actively used in galvanizing the riots. These tools continue to have a similar utility in the Arab Spring, unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa.
