London riots: David Cameron to chair Cobra meeting

Fires raged in parts of London in a third night of mob violence

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David Cameron is to chair an emergency meeting in Downing Street later after riots in London and other cities spiralled out of control.

Mobs fought running battles with police across the capital for a third night in succession, as the violence spread to Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol.

The prime minister cut short his summer break and is flying back from Italy to deal with the situation.

Labour leader Ed Miliband is also returning to London from his break.

A Downing Street source said Mr Cameron, who was in the second week of a family holiday in Tuscany, was travelling on a UK military flight leaving Italy at 03:00 BST.

Asked why the PM had now decided to return, after earlier saying he would not, the source said: "The situation has become more serious."

'Real crisis'

Mr Cameron returns to scenes of devastation in parts of London, with widespread looting and buildings set alight. There have also been disturbances in other major cities.

He is due to chair the government's Cobra emergency planning committee at 09:00 BST to discuss the riots and will also meet Home Secretary Theresa May and Metropolitan Police Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin.

“Start Quote

This violence and vandalism is disgraceful criminal behaviour”

Ed Miliband Labour leader

The BBC's Andrew Neil, writing on Twitter, said the riots were the prime minister's "first real crisis", adding "now we will find out if Mr Cameron is composed of the stuff of leadership".

Police have struggled to curb the wave of mob violence, which began on Saturday night in Tottenham, North London, when a protest against the shooting by police of a local man, 29-year-old Mark Duggan, got out of hand.

The Home Office has said the main policing priority has been to ensure Scotland Yard has adequate reinforcements available from other forces.

But Mr Cameron will face questions about how the violence was allowed to escalate and what was behind it - and whether the police response was sufficiently robust to protect the public and businesses.

Mr Miliband, who is returning to London from a family holiday in Devon, branded the violence "disgraceful criminal behaviour".

'Consequences'

He said: "I am shocked by the scenes we are seeing in parts of London and Birmingham.

"This violence and vandalism is disgraceful criminal behaviour.

"What we need to see is the strongest possible police response to restore calm and security to our streets and for communities to work together.

"It is right that the prime minister is chairing Cobra. We need a coordinated response to ensure public safety and help those people who have lost homes and businesses."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who returned to work on Monday morning after his holiday, earlier defended the government against accusations that senior ministers were on holiday despite the riots and volatility on the stock market.

Home Secretary Theresa May, who also ended her summer break early, warned that those responsible "will be made to face the consequences of their actions".

London Mayor Boris Johnson also bowed to pressure by cutting short his holiday as the violence continued and is due back in London at lunchtime on Tuesday.

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