London Riots - Day Four: As It Happened

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LBC received new reports of disturbances across London as tensions rose following days of riots - see the coverage as it happened

A number of areas were told to close early by police as a precaution as the capital prepared for a fourth day of violence.

11.40pm - We're going to sign off for the night now with London seeming to be calm. Thanks for joining us throughout the evening as thankfully the capital stayed safe.

In summary:
London residents have been patrolling the streets of their communities in an effort to protect their homes and businesses.

16,000 officers are on the streets of the capital - which has been calmer than previous nights.

Earlier the Met Police confirmed minor disturbances in Canning Town, Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Highgate.

We have also had reports of disturbances in Eltham.

Groups in Enfield, Southhall and Lewisham are believed to amongst those trying to stop yesterday's scenes repeating themselves.

11.31pm - Car fire in Burnt Oak, London Fire Brigade is in attendance.

11.30pm - videos are posted on Youtube of marches in Enfield:

10.45pm - Eltham High Street has reopened.

10.38pm - Seven Sisters disturbance seems to be nothing of note.

10.31pm - LBC is getting reports of a disturbance in Seven Sisters

10.12pm - London Fire Brigade says it has been a vey quiet night for them - and they hope it stays that way.

10.11pm - Reports that a group of up to 2,000 people are moving between Eltham and Lewisham, with the intent to "claim back the streets".

10.00pm - No reports of looting in central London.

9.57pm - Met police have confirmed minor disorder at Canning Town, Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Highgate.

9.44pm - The Guardian believe that London will remain calm tonight. They are sending their key personnel up to Birmingham.

9.38pm - Southbury Rail Station, near Enfield, has just closed.

9.36pm - Cotton Street in Poplar is closed due to a public disorder incident. More as we get it.

9.31pm - By the way, if you're wondering how we're tracking all the reports around London and the UK tonight, check out the LBC Mission Control.

9.29pm - Roads in Kingston and Hammersmith were both closed for disturbances but both opened again after just a few minutes.

9.25pm - There's a fire in Wandsworth, but it's not related to riots - just a kitchen fire.

9.20pm - And just as I say that, news of 50-70 young people patrolling streets in Enfield to ward off possible rioters.

9.19pm - The big story in London today seems to be communities joining together to show strength against the riots. We've seen wonderful shows in Enfield and Southall.

9.08pm - Tottenham MP David Lammy releases a statement following the IPCC report on Mark Duggan's shooting:
"These are very serious developments. A man has been shot and his family deserve to know exactly what happened. But let me be clear: what will help no-one is a further round of violence and disruption. The young people who are causing immense distress to families and local businesses across the country are not acting in the name of the Duggan family or of the people of Tottenham. We will not let those intent on violence distract from this very serious investigation.

"It is imperative that the IPCC investigation is as thorough and transparent as is possible. The Duggan family need to understand all of the circumstances leading up to and surrounding his death. They are constituents of mine and I will scrutinise each stage of this process. Through the investigation, the IPCC must demonstrate its worth and establish the truth about what happened on Thursday night."

9.00pm - Nine o'clock update
London is on high alert tonight - with more than 16,000 police officers on the streets - in case a fourth night of violence breaks out.

Reports are coming from Sloane Square tube station that shop front windows have been smashed - and there's also potential confrontations in the East of the City - in East Ham, Canning Town, Beckton and New Addington,

In Southall - members of the community are reportedly confronting troublemakers.

But the unrest is spreading beyond London this evening. A shop has been set on fire, windows smashed and a store looted in Manchester City Centre. Greater Manchester Police say increased numbers of officers are on the ground and trying to disperse youngsters as quickly as possible. Shops have also been looted and damaged in nearby Salford - youngsters are throwing rocks at police.

There are also reports of disturbance in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich but West Midlands police say they have it under control and have drafted in more than 5 hundred officers.

Here in London, prosecutors are travelling with police to likely riot scenes tonight to provide "on-the-spot charging advice" - in order to speed up any potential prosecutions. 32 of the 105 people who've been charged in connection with the riots have already appeared in court - and 18 of those have been remanded in custody.

Scotland Yard has ruled out involving the Army but say they are "not scared" of using plastic bullets to bring the unprecedented riots under control. A total of 111 officers and five police dogs have been injured during the last 3 days.

Also, ballistic tests indicate the police shooting victim - whose death triggered Saturday's riot in Tottenham - did NOT fire at officers before he was killed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says there's "no evidence" a handgun found at the scene where Mark Duggan was killed had been used.

8.57pm - Here's that remarkable Southall tweet in full:
Did some ask for an army ?? #Southall #RepSikhi #RepYourCommunity

8.54pm -  Remarkable photo appearing from Southall of the community showing up in numbers to protect their community. Huge number of people there. We'll bring it to you as soon as possible.

8.51pm - Confirmation from the fire brigade. Stockley Road in West Drayton is back open after very minor fire not related to any unrest.

8.46pm - Apple have announced they are set to empty a number of their stores around the country to protect their stock amid the disturbances.

8.44pm - Horton Road in West Drayton is closed because of a fire at Stockley Road. We have not been given any indication if this is related to any riots in the area.

8.37pm - Locals in Enfield have marched through down Hertford Road in a display of defiance to the rioters. See the video below.

8.30pm - Stand-offs between police and youths in New Addington, just to the west of Croydon. Central Parade still closed.

8.25pm - Reports suggest shops being raided in Manchester, but mounted police and dog handlers getting it under control.

8.16pm - Buses being diverted away from Central Parade in New Addington. Police not confirming any unrest, but there is definitely tension there.

8.08pm - Riot police have arrived in St Ann's Square in Manchester. They are arresting all the rioters and looters in the area.

7.56pm - Iain Dale says the good news is that so far, no one has called LBC and used the words "It's all kicking off".

7.47pm - Birmingham and Manchester is where all the trouble has been so far. Everything eerily quiet in London, with big police presence in key spots.

7.35pm - The full Boris Johnson interview on LBC 97.3

7.15pm - Still a couple of road closures in London:
- In East Ham - Prince Regent Lane is closed again around Jenkins Road
- In Canning Town - Freemasons Road is closed between the A13 and Victoria Dock Road

7.11pm - Rioters have set fire to a Miss Selfridge shop on Market Street in Manchester city centre.

7.04pm - Mayor Boris Johnson to speak to LBC 97.3 liveat 7.10pm to discuss the latest in the London Riots.

7.00pm - Three stores near Sloane Square Tube station have suffered smashed windows according to Press Association.Hugo Boss, Ladbrokes and a foreign exchange shop were all left badly damaged, but those responsible had moved away from the area.

6.56pm - Hats off to the Daily Telegraph for these wonderful before/after graphics - http://thkpr.gs/pgP6kS

6.55pm - Lots of smoke visible around Canning Town. Three helicopter

6.47pm - Prime Minister David Cameron will chair another meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee at 9am tomorrow, Downing Street said.

6.38pm - Two bins alight in Canning Town, confirm the London Fire Brigade.

6.33pm - Rumours of unrest in Canning Town. We can confirm a road has been closed around Freemasons Avenue due to civil disturbances, but nothing more at present.

6.30pm - LBC is hearing that all is quiet in Beckton. Police helicopters are flying above, but there is no sign of any disorder at present.

6.16pm -  See the latest pictures from tonight in London - as 16,000 police hit the streets.

6.10pm -  To confirm, no disturbances confirmed in London yet. However, disorder in Salford, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

6.09pm - David Rathband, the policeman who was shot and blinded by Raoul Moat last year, called James Whale on LBC 97.3 to say that we have to let the police do their job.

6.00pm - A 6pm summary
The Metropolitan Police says it'll be using "every part of its body" to ensure that any disorder in London tonight is minimised. 16,000 police officers are on the streets of the city, after 3 nights of rioting.

There are reports of disturbances in East Ham this evening and firefighters have put out a car fire in Croydon. There are also disturbances reported in Birmingham for a second night.

In London, every resource is being brought in. Scotland Yard are even appealing to volunteer and retired policemen for help. Shops and businesses in London have shut early and sent employees home as a precaution.

A murder investigation has begun after a 26-year-old man shot in Croydon last night died. And there's reports a man in his 60s is critcally ill after standing up to looters in Ealing last night.

Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of inciting rioting via Facebook. Two 18-year-olds were held in Folkestone in Kent, while a 16-year-old is being questioned in Scotland after being arrested in the south side of Glasgow.

Tottenham MP David Lammy has called for Blackberry to suspend their instant messenger service - because its believed to be the way those who are causing the trouble are comunicating. LBC's been told that a message doing the rounds saying if you dont forward, your BBM will be turned off is a fake.

Police say 563 people have been arrested over 3 nights of violence. 111 officers have been injured.

Mayor Boris Johnson who has been visiting damaged shops in Clapham - has told lbc those responsible will face severe punishment.

5.49pm - Gallions Reach Shopping Centre say buses are being diverted as a precaution. They insist there is no trouble there.

5.46pm - Darren Little, Sky's Midlands Correspondent tweets: "Gang of 200 just gone thru Bham centre, armed with sticks etc, riot police dealing with them."

5.38pm -  Car on fire in Croydon. London Fire Brigade right there to put it out.

5.35pm - West Midlands Police confirm some disorder in Wolverhampton City Centre.

5.28pm - Disturbances reported around Gallions Reach shopping Centre in Beckton - buses have been diverted.

5.25pm - The IPCC also confirms that he did have a gun with live bullets, but the bullet in the police officer's radio was police issue.

5.23pm - The Independent Police Complaints Commission says there is no evidence that Mark Duggan opened fire at police officers before he was shot dead after studying ballistic test results.

5.19pm - More from TrafficLink on the road closures in East Ham. There have been people throwing things into the road.

5.17pm - There have been lots of BBM messages on BlackBerry firing around saying you have to send on a message or your BBM account will be suspended. We've just heard from RIM that this is spam.

5.12pm - As we wait for any news about how this evening will pan out, it's worth remembering that today has seen the very best of London's community spirit.

5.02pm - Definitely disturbances happening at East Ham. Two helicopters are overhead and the A112 is closed.

5.01pm - Scotland Yard have appealed to any Metropolitan Police volunteers or retired officers for help so that serving officers could be freed to police the streets.

4.54pm - TrafficLink reporting A112 Prince Regent Lane closed due to civil disturbance around Jenkins Road in East Ham.

4.53pm - New police arrest numbers: There have been 563 arrests to date and 105 people charged.

4.52pm - At the moment, only smaller theatres like the Landor in Clapham, Arcola in Hackney, Battersea Arts Centre, King’s Head theatre in Islington have confirmed they’re closing tonight. At the moment all West End shows are on, as far as are aware.

4.51pm - The Association of British Insurers says the cost of the damage in the London Riots has already hit £100 million.

4.47pm - London is quiet, but we've had confirmation of windows being smashed in West Bromwich in Birmingham.

4.39pm - Lewisham has a big police presence at the moment, but all is quiet.

4.36pm - Tweeted from @frasereC4: "The glazier we're filming with has run out of wooden boards."

4.33pm - Police confirm a total of 525 people arrested following the unrest over the past three days. 99 have been charged - 66 of them for burglary.

4.22pm - Just to confirm, while much of London is closing early today, there are no confirmed reports of any violence.

4.19pm - Confirmed reports that there is a big police presence in Tottenham Court Road. No reports of any disturbances in the area at present.

4.15pm - It's fair to say that London is closing down this afternoon. Many West End theatres have cancelled their shows this evening.

4.12pm - Ikea in Wembley has closed for the day following advice from the police and Brent Council. Around half the shops in Willesden and Kilburn are closed.

3.54pm - Shops in Highbury have closed

3.42pm - Shops in Hampstead are closing, while much of Greenwich is understoof to be all boarded up already.

3.39pm - Businesses all over London are telling their staff to leave early as a precaution.

3.35pm - Brick Lane shops are closing at 4pm, while Crystal Palace shops are also understood to be closing early.

3.33pm - Fulham, Chelsea and Notting Hill believed to be a centre for action and shops have been told to close.

3.30pm - A senior source tells LBC shops in the following locations are being told to close down early today:
Lakeside
Lewisham
Croydon - immediately
Uxbridge - 3pm close
Walthamstow
Sutton - closed
Wandsworth - closed
Wimbledon - closed
Ealing – closed

3.27pm - Tottenham MP David Lammy asks for the Blackberry BBM service to be suspended amid reports riots were being organised via the messaging service.

3.25pm - Whiteleys in Bayswater has been completely evacuated as a precaution.

2.42pm - Boris Johnson speaks live on LBC 97.3 from Clapham Junction and is heavily-heckled by passers-by, angry at what is happening to their city.

2.20pm - Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon confirmed as closed early, along with South Side Shopping Centre in Wandsworth.

2.06pm - Police confirm they have the possibility of using of plastic bullets if riots get out of hand again.

2.05pm - Shops closing eaerly in Westfield, Bromley and Hackney as tensiopn rises. Twenty police officers are standing standing guard around the entrance to Hackney town hall on Mare Street.

1.44pm - Reports of disturbances in Thornton Heath. Tesco on Brigstock Road is believed to be looted by youngsters.