Third night of riots in London as violence spreads

Rioting has spread across London on a third night of violence, with unrest flaring up in other English cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol,

An extra 1,700 police officers were deployed in London, where shops were looted and buildings were set alight.

At least 400 people have been arrested following the riots across London over the past three days, the Met Police said. Scotland Yard said 69 people had been charged with offences.

In the meantime, Prime Minister David Cameron has returned early from his holiday to discuss the unrest, which first flared on Saturday after a peaceful protest in Tottenham over the fatal shooting of a man by police.

He will be chairing the government's emergency committee Cobra to discuss the riotsm and will also meet Home Secretary Theresa May and Metropolitan Police Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin

All London tube stations that were closed due to the riots have now re-opened, but there is a police cordon at one entrance to Ealing Broadway

Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steven Kavanagh said it was a "shocking and appalling morning for London to wake up to".

"The Met was stretched beyond belief in a way that it has never experienced before," he told BBC Breakfast.

When asked at what stage he would consider bringing in the Army, he responded by saying "all options are being considered".

Three people were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was injured by a car in Brent, north west London, while trying to stop suspected looters

Met commander Christine Jones said: "The violence we have seen is simply inexcusable.

"Ordinary people have had their lives turned upside down by this mindless thuggery. The Met will ensure that those responsible will face the consequences of their actions and be arrested."

Monday's violence started in Hackney after a man was stopped and searched by police but nothing was found.

In the first outbreak of violence, groups of people began attacking the police in Hackney at about 16:20 BST, throwing rocks and a bin at officers.

Police cars were smashed by youths armed with wooden poles and metal bars.

Looters also smashed their way into shops, including a JD Sports store, before being dispersed by police.

Nine police forces from other parts of the country assisted in providing support, as well as the City of London Police and British Transport Police.

However, eyewitnesses have reported that as trouble spread across the city, there were often few police officers around when violence flared.

The fresh violence prompted the Met's Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin to call on parents to contact their children and urge the public to clear London's streets.