Presenter: ‘This is the BBC news at ten o’clock … Rioting is continuing tonight in several cities across England. The most serious disorder is once again in London where police are advising people not to leave their homes unless it’s absolutely necessary.
‘Violent clashes are taking place between riot police and mobs in Brixton, London Bridge, Tottenham and Peckham, and we’re receiving reports of a major confrontation on the Embankment as hundreds of rioters try to reach the Scotland Yard building overlooking the Thames.
‘It’s now known that at least eleven people have died in the riots, and many more have been injured. The number of arrests is approaching five hundred, and it’s estimated that over a hundred buildings have been destroyed by fire.
‘The Prime Minister has just issued a statement to reporters in Downing Street, which began with a commitment to restore order and reclaim the streets from the rioters.’
Prime Minster: ‘These are indeed dark times for this country and I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to bring the riots to an end. Thousands of police officers are being deployed along with hundreds of army personnel, and I would like to pay tribute to their bravery. I would also like to send my condolences to the families of those police officers and members of the public who have been senselessly killed.
‘Nothing can excuse or justify what is happening, and those behind the violence and destruction of property will be dealt with harshly by the courts.
‘At the same time this government will seek to remedy the serious social problems that have led to the disorder to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. These problems include the gang culture that exists in our towns and cities, the fact that many young people feel alienated and disaffected, poor job prospects for those living in deprived areas, and a growing mistrust of politicians and the police by large numbers of people.’
Presenter: ‘Meanwhile, only half of those people who’ve lost their lives in the riots have so far been named. Among them is Jacob Rossi, the ten-year-old boy who died while chained to a wall in the cellar of a derelict pub in Camberwell that was set on fire. Police are still searching for the person or persons who abducted Jacob last Monday while he was on his way home from school and then held him captive for four nights. They’re also appealing for information on the rioter who threw the petrol bomb into the pub that started the blaze.
‘Jacob’s father is the television presenter Mark Rossi, who lives in Bromley with his wife, Clare. In the last hour he spoke publicly for the first time since learning of his son’s death.’
Mark Rossi: ‘It’s impossible for me to put into words how we feel about what has happened. All I can say is that his mother and I are devastated. Jacob was a wonderful, loving son and he meant everything to us. We still can’t believe that we will never see him again. Whoever imprisoned our boy in that cellar doesn’t deserve to live. It was beyond cruel and we just can’t bear to think how he must have suffered during all those days and nights when he was alone in the dark with his wrists chained to the wall. The person who caused the fire in that building must also bear responsibility for Jacob’s death. I appeal to anyone who has information to pass it on to the police.’
Presenter: ‘That was Mark Rossi, whose son Jacob died tragically on Friday. Now before we go I have to bring you some late breaking news. The Scotland Yard press office has just announced that the Metropolitan Police firearms officer who accidentally shot and killed a pregnant woman during a raid last Tuesday has been murdered.
‘It was the death of twenty-seven-year-old Grace Fuller that sparked the riots. She was the wife of alleged drug dealer Warren Fuller, and was in the bedroom of their home in Balham, South London, when police burst in. The fatal shot was fired by officer Barry Noble, who has been on suspension while an internal investigation was carried out.
‘Mr Noble, who was thirty-five and married with two children, was repeatedly stabbed by an unknown assailant when he answered the door to his home in Fulham earlier this evening. He was rushed to hospital after his wife rang for an ambulance, but there was a delay in it getting there and he died on the way.
‘Scotland Yard did not release the identity of the officer who shot Mrs Fuller, but it’s understood that Mr Noble’s name was leaked and published on social media several hours before the attack. We’ll bring you further details when we get them.’