Riots flare across central, northern England

Violence and arson spread across central and northern England for the fourth night as hooded youths ransacked stores, torched cars, smashed windows and looted shops in the worst riots in Britain in several decades.

An uneasy calm prevailed in London, which witnessed an unprecedented wave of violence that left parts of the capital in flames, with 16,000 police personnel deployed on the streets.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported in Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham with shops being looted and set alight.

Rioters broke into stores and ran off with electronic and leather goods, bikes, sports shoes, branded clothes and jewellery with virtually no resistance from the police and security personnel.

Armed with swords and hockey sticks, over 700 Sikhs took to the streets Tuesday night to protect the Guru Singh Sabha gurdwara in Southall as the police were stretched to maintain law and order on the streets of London.

Local vigilante groups have been formed in various areas in London to protect homes and business establishments that have been vandalised by rioters - mainly of Afro-Caribbean origin - in London over the past four days.

Nearly 800 people have been arrested and over 100 charged in connection with violence in the capital, British authorities said.

In the north western city of Manchester youths with a face cover rampaged through the city centre, hurling bottles and stones at police while vandalising stores, some stocking luxury items.

As riots prompted questions inside and outside Britain about London's ability to hold the 2012 Olympics, Home Secretary Theresa May said the security plans for the mega sporting event will be reviewed.

London has seen a wave of "copycat criminal activity" since the killing of a youth, the Metropolitan Police said.

Armored vehicles and convoys of police vans patrolled the streets in a show of force to rein in trouble makers.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who rushed home after cutting short his vacation in Italy, called an emergency session of parliament on Thursday to discuss the situation and steps to defuse the crisis following three days of "sickening" rioting on the streets of London.

Talking tough, Cameron said the culprits will be brought to bear the consequences of their actions and the government was determined to see justice is delivered to the law abiding citizens.

With no signs of the violence abating, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said the use of plastic bullets - never before fired to deal with riots in England - would be "considered carefully" in the event of further disorder.

Canning Circus police station in central Nottingham was firebombed by a male gang last night. In Leicester, a group of up to 100 youths attacked shops and threw items at police.

Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said his force had faced "extraordinary levels of violence from groups of criminals intent on committing widespread disorder" on Tuesday.

The rioting and looting that hit Manchester was an act of "senseless violence and senseless criminality" on a scale not witnessed in 30 years, a senior police officer said.

The violence, committed by people with "nothing to protest against," has brought "shame on the streets" of the city, Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police said.

In Liverpool, Merseyside Police have arrested 46 people in relation to disorder in the city. National Express coaches have suspended services to Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Manchester where people are instead being dropped off in either Manchester Airport, Oldham or Stockport.

Some 111 police officers have suffered injuries including serious head and eye wounds, cuts and fractured bones after being attacked by rioters wielding bottles, planks, bricks and even driving cars at them.

Around 300 rioters tore through Queen Street, Dudley Street, Wulfruna Street, Princess Street and Market Street, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Police dispersed the crowd quickly charging the crowd, but the gangs regrouped and attacked shops.

Max Harvey, the general manager of the shopping centre's Armani store, said 500,000 pounds worth of damage had been caused there alone.

Taxpayers in UK could face a 100 million pound bill for the riots in London and across the country, with police authorities facing the prospect of picking up insurance costs for damage to property across the nation.

Retailers and homeowners were contacting insurers over the huge damage done to their properties and businesses in four days of rioting.