COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

There has been violence this evening in Birmingham city centre, following on from the riots in London.


Birmingham city centre this evening

It’s after rumours of a riot in the city spread on social media sites like Twitter this afternoon.

The Bullring shopping centre closed early after receiving guidance from the police.

West Midlands Police have confirmed several shops in the city centre have been attacked with windows smashed and looting in various locations.

Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Rowe said:

“We will not tolerate mindless violence and damage anywhere in the West Midlands and are working to ensure that the offenders are identified and caught as soon as possible.

“A policing operation is in place with extra officers in Birmingham to restore calm in the city centre, and protect local people and businesses.

“Our communities have made it clear to us that they do not want this kind of violence in their city and we will continue to work with them to bring anybody who commits acts of crime or anti-social behaviour to justice as soon as possible.”

Shop windows were smashed in Birmingham this evening as large crowds gathered following rumours of a copycat riot following the London riots.

Police established and exclusion zone into the city centre up to half a mile around the city's famous Bullring shooping centre.

Hundreds of youths gathered under the eyes of hundreds more police, many of the youths covering their faces with hoodies and scarves.

McDonalds, Jessops and LA fitness were targetted, with bins thrown through the windows as rioters attempted to loot in similar fashion to the riots in Tottenham and Enfield.

As police held their lines rioters smashed several more shop windows and attacked passing busses.

West Midlands Police confirm that a police station in Holyhead Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, is on fire.

National Express coaches are not operating routes into Birmingham or Wolverhampton "until further notice". Other coach services are working, but Birmingham coach station has been closed.