Courtesy of the Press Association, here is a timeline of the main events over the past few days.
AUGUST 4
:: Police shoot dead Mark Duggan, 29, in Ferry Lane, Tottenham. Officers had stopped his taxi to carry out an arrest as part of a pre-planned operation, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
AUGUST 6
:: About 120 people march peacefully from the local area of Broadwater Farm to Tottenham police station, demanding “justice” for Mr Duggan’s family. A few hours later at 8.20pm two police cars parked near the police station are attacked and set alight as riots break out with petrol bombs thrown and buildings set on fire. Hundreds of people gather in the street throwing missiles at officers.
AUGUST 7
:: In the early hours a group of teenagers and adults loot almost all the stores in Tottenham Hale Retail Park half a mile away.
:: A total of 26 officers are injured during the unrest and 42 people are arrested for offences including violent disorder, burglary and theft. Firefighters attend 49 blazes in the Tottenham area and are threatened as they try to put out fires.
:: In the afternoon Mr Duggan’s family tell Sky News they “are not condoning” the rioters’ actions.
:: At 6.30pm three police officers are taken to hospital after being injured in Brixton, south London, after police intervene in an altercation in Coldharbour Lane.
:: Trouble flares in Enfield, north London, with youths vandalising a police car and smashing windows in Enfield High Street.
AUGUST 8
:: More trouble in Brixton shortly after midnight after a Foot Locker store is torched.
:: Minutes later three police officers, who were trying to make arrests, are taken to hospital after being hit by a fast-moving vehicle in Chingford Mount, Waltham Forest.
:: A fight breaks out when rival gangs attended King’s College Hospital after two victims of minor stabbings were admitted. The hospital brings in extra security.
:: There are also reports of “copycat criminal activity” in Walthamstow, Islington, Ponders End and Oxford Circus.
:: At 6.15am Scotland Yard say a further 100 arrests have been made after the fresh troubles and 16 people have been charged so far.
:: A total of 61 were arrested in relation to the first bout of disturbances in Tottenham, police added.
:: Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Kavanagh blames Twitter for fuelling looting and violence as the website is used to organise riots.
:: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg condemns the violence saying it has nothing to do with the shooting of Mark Duggan.
:: The Home Secretary Theresa May returns home from holiday to deal with the crisis, meeting the Met’s acting commissioner Tim Godwin.
:: She is followed several hours later by the Prime Minister who returns from Italy.
:: Mr Kavanagh says Twitter users could face arrest for inciting violence.
:: Mayor of London Boris Johnson announces he will return from his family holiday to help deal with the crisis.
:: Croydon, Barnet, Streatham, Clapham and Islington were among a number of areas where shops were being advised to close early amid fears of violence.
:: The IPCC said it was awaiting “further forensic analysis” to gain a comprehensive account of the shots which led to Mark Duggan’s death.
:: The Guardian quotes a source saying that initial tests suggested a bullet found lodged in a police radio after Mr Duggan’s death was police issue.
:: Scotland Yard has apologised to the family of Mark Duggan for the “distress” caused to them in the wake of his death.
:: Mr Duggan’s fiancee, Semone Wilson, says the riots had “got out of hand” and were “not needed at all”.
:: Police with dogs charge at rioters throwing bottles in Clarence Road, Hackney, where a car was set on fire and where the worst of three nights of violence begins.
:: National Rail closes train stations including Barking, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Peckham Rye, West Croydon and South Bermondsey.
:: The number of those arrested stands at 215 with 25 charged following the riots across London over the last two days.
:: As evening falls, mayhem grips London with rioters on the streets of Clapham Junction, Ealing, East Dulwich, Bethnal Green, Newham, Lewisham, Camden, Enfield, Croydon, Peckham and Hackney.
:: Violence also moves further afield with thugs rampaging in Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, Reading and Kent.
:: A 26-year-old man is found with gunshot wounds inside a car in Croydon.
:: West Ham FC postpone their Carling Cup match against Aldershot at the request of Scotland Yard.
AUGUST 9
:: Scotland Yard announces it has had help from 11 other forces in policing the streets.
:: Scotland Yard says 334 people have been arrested, 69 charged and two cautioned in connection with the rioting and looting across London.
:: Charlton FC postpone their Carling Cup tie with Reading.
:: Theresa May appears on breakfast television to say 450 people have been arrested nationwide and appears to rule out calling in the Army.
:: At 9am the Prime Minister chairs a meeting of the Cobra Committee discuss the emergency.
:: Acting Met Commissioner Tim Godwin calls for all special constables to be allowed on duty and announces 16,000 police officers would be on duty in London tonight after all leave was cancelled.
:: The Football Association announces that England’s friendly against Holland at Wembley Stadium tomorrow has been called off.
:: Mark Duggan’s inquest opens and adjourns after hearing the father-of-four died from a single bullet to the chest.
:: The Ministry of Justice confirms there is enough room in jail for anyone sentenced to custody as a result of the violence and looting.
:: The Prime Minister announces Parliament will be recalled om Thursday to discuss the crisis.
:: Tory MEP Roger Helmer attracts criticism after tweeting: “Shoot looters and arsonists on sight.”
:: The 26-year-old shot in Croydon dies from his injuries.
