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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be in tears about the riots in Croydon

80 replies

spudulika · 08/08/2011 21:53

... watching the coverage tonight - West Croydon, just a mile from where I am, ablaze.

What's wrong with these people, wanting to destroy the jobs, lives and homes of the people who live there? It's such a deprived area anyway.

DS (7) is sobbing with fear because my SIL and their cousins live 200 yards from West Croydon station. Apparently there are gangs of youths with knives walking down their road.

Sad Sad Sad
OP posts:
issey6cats · 08/08/2011 23:39

the whole rioting is appaling how many people will be unemployed next week or homless due to the mindless actions of these thugs and idiots,

used to live near croydon in new addington and know that thornton heath is definitely not an area that can recover easily from this my heart goes out to all innocents caught up in this,

funnily enough in dalston a group of turkish men got together and had the bottle to stand up to the rioters by blocking off the high sreet and phisically (sp) defending thier businesses,

a friend of mine lives in croydon and her friend lives in thornton heath and the furniture wharehouse near hr has been set on fire, if it spreads any further, her, her daughter and grandchildren who live next door may have to move out of thier house and possibl lose everythig to these mindless people and no insurance will pay ou for riot damage so a whole life gone

janelikesjam · 08/08/2011 23:42

NotADudeExactly, yes I feel it is a kind of disgrace ...

NotADudeExactly · 08/08/2011 23:47

BBC now reporting that things may be kicking off in Camden. Which is just around the corner from me and even closer to whe DH is sitting with his scared colleagues. Now feeling really nervous; security here trying to prevent residents from leaving. Granted, this is presumably because there are many young men among us. This being student accommodation and all.

DH asking if he should come home but I'm not sure if it is safe for him to be walking.

GeorgeWeasleysGirl · 08/08/2011 23:49

Am in purley. Can't believe we've just watched a part of our towns history go up in flames! Reeves has been there Over 100 years, since 1867. It's a landmark and poor Trevor Reeves' livelihood.. How, in anyones mind, could random destruction like this be ok?! Scummy bastards...

hester · 08/08/2011 23:50

I lived locally for 30 years. My mum and daughter are there tonight. But I still laughed at the description of Thornton Heath high street - though to be really authentic you should pronounce (and spell) it Foot Neef.

A really sad night for London.

CognitiveDissident · 08/08/2011 23:51

Daughter is safe now...

She's frantically trying to contact her friends and flatmates; all of whom live in Croydon.

hester · 08/08/2011 23:51

issey, that story about the Turkish shopkeepers really warms the heart. Hope all goes well for them.

GeorgeWeasleysGirl · 08/08/2011 23:53

Had a similar problem, am one of six siblings and we all live in croydon as do our parents. Was a LOT of calling around going on. Seriously worried for my 8 year old nephew though who is staying at his dads in clapham tonight...

AlwaysbeOpralFruitstome · 08/08/2011 23:54

issey - Hope your friend and her daughter are ok.

DH has family in Egypt. They have nothing, are the definition of poverty but didn't resort to looting when they were out on the streets. I am so ashamed of this country, right now.

The wigs and bibles comment did make me smile though. DH made a comment earlier about them potentially looting TH. Heath high street and I said "Yeah cos every looters dream is to come away with a stash of third hand xbox's and a bag of salt fish!" - It really is a bizarre High St.

FamilyCircus · 09/08/2011 00:00

Oh God! I'm in Mitcham and didn't know about this until I saw this thread.

It's absolutely awful.

Will read rest of thread now.

WiiUnfit · 09/08/2011 00:01

:( Thinking of all of you affected by these twats. I hope all of your families are safe.

NotADudeExactly · 09/08/2011 00:02

Agreed re. Egypt. I spent some time in the West Bank during the height of the intifada. There might be tank shells landing in shops - but if anyone thought they could seize the opportunity and help themselves, the entire city would be after them.

Also don't understand how this is being policed. I am half Swiss and vividly remember being completely overwhelmed by tear gas and rubber bullets every time I have attended a completely legal, largely peaceful political rally there. Not on, of course, that is not what I mean. But how come the Swiss have no issues with essentially declaring war on people for exercising their rights and in London we cannot stop people from looting and setting fire to buildings, FFS!!?

NasalCoffeeEnema · 09/08/2011 00:04

I was angry watching it before

NowI'm in tears, BBC reporter saying about a shop having been set alight with properties above and not knowing if there was anyone living above/home
Its terrifying

AlwaysbeOpralFruitstome · 09/08/2011 00:09

Iwould be a little Hmm at the use of force against looting. Not that I think it's all-right, it's far from ok, but not to do something when they are setting the city on fire! When people could die. It's almost farcical if it were in any way remotely funny.Sad

NotADudeExactly · 09/08/2011 00:14

Agreed, always.

I'm very much of a lefty, in fact. Definitely not someone who tends to side with the police (see above) and generally of the opinion that causes matter etc.

But I do draw the line at arson. This could kill people FFS! And even if it doesn't, these are people's livelyhoods we're talking here!

LineRunner · 09/08/2011 00:20

NotADude, were you with the UN in Sheikh Jarrah? All gone now - Israeli settlement building.

Wouldn't want us to have 'iron fist' tactics in the UK.

SaffronCake · 09/08/2011 00:23

YANBU

I've got no connection at all to the areas which are so-far affected and I'm hundreds of miles from London but I'm upset by it. It shakes my understanding of my world. I find it really hard to accept that it's been 3 days and we haven't got it under control. I just don't understand anymore. I don't know what the answer is, or how to fix it, all I know is this shouldn't be happening here, in this country and I can't get my head round it. I think I would be crying too if I had loved ones in the area.

Please, please turn off the internet and TV and hold your son though. If I can't make sense of it then he definately can't and he needs his Mum to make it alright (even if you have to lie).

Thingiebob · 09/08/2011 00:23

I'm in Sanderstead as well. I feel reasonably safe but I feel so scared for the residents who live in the centre and around commercial areas.

Awful.

sunshinelifeisgood · 09/08/2011 00:25

im watching bbc news, the reporter has just said that she has been asked not to film as it may aggrevaite the situation, but she is reporting shops being broken into etc. Debenhams was raided and people are being asked to leave thier homes. Its heartbreaking to think that it is happening here in London. Keep safe everyone that are near the riots, we will be thinking of you x

NotADudeExactly · 09/08/2011 00:26

No, I was in Ramallah and Nablus mostly. In Jenin for some time. I was a freelance journalist and kind of embedded myself with civilians there. Very scary, actually.

And, no, I'm not pro harsh policing tactics at all. But I do happen to think that arson crosses a line. This could kill people!

NasalCoffeeEnema · 09/08/2011 00:27

They think the people were out from above the (party) shop

SaffronCake · 09/08/2011 00:42

There's a man on the BBC now saying his girlfriend and 7 year old are terrified and the riot is going on around them and he can't get home. It's just too, too awful.

mayorquimby · 09/08/2011 00:42

liverpools starting off now

ledkr · 09/08/2011 00:44

i cant stop watching it,i am really sad,sending my thoughts to all of you affected,

NotADudeExactly · 09/08/2011 00:46

Saffron, that was a repetition. This was first on at about 7 or 8pm. Hope he got home now.