Santander, New Street, 9 Aug and 18 Aug
Supercuts, New Street, 9 Aug and 10 Aug
Cafe Rouge, near New Street, 9 Aug (2) and 18 Aug
Store on Hurst Street, 9 Aug and 10 Aug
8 Aug: Half-past midnight on the first night of the riots
I wrote an email to my project manager earlier in the evening, letting her know that my coworker and I were safe amidst the riots that had begun in Birmingham that day. A few hours later, I wrote another email, part of which is below:
The rioting reached our area well over an hour ago and continues to grow worse. The police are overwhelmed and there are too many streets, nooks and crannies in the city for them to effectively contain the destruction. Over 30 arrests were made earlier this evening, at least, but there are LOTS of people below destroying shops, etc.
We're hoping that we remain safe here but the potential for setting fires around the city is still out there, which is our greatest fear right now, of course. I can hardly hear myself think for the variety of sirens and alarms going off outside as glass continues to break and objects beat metal amidst the angry yelling from the hooded people. Whether we go into work tomorrow or how long we stay there if we go will depend on the situation here. The streets are owned by the vandals and their racing car counterparts right now.
9 Aug: Moving from one crime scene to another
The riot vans leave Bromsgrove Street headed towards the Bullring. The couples walking around the corner and the people in the cars were patrons of a nearby business (restaurant or theater) held there for safety until the streets were secured by the police.
14 Aug: Preventative measures at the Bullring
As a Sunday meal with a friend ended at the Bullring Cafe Rouge, I noticed workmen taking sheets of plywood out of a nearby, entirely glazed storefront. We walked to the store and asked if they were putting up the boards every night. They were.
There hadn't been any riot activity for four nights but many shops kept their unbroken windows boarded. In fact, though most returned their storefronts to normal the Monday after the riots, some businesses yet remain wary -- as I write this, it's been about two and a half weeks since the chaos ended but at least a handful of Birmingham's shops are still hidden under a plywood armor.
"I lost my son. Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home. Please."
Video footage of Tariq Jahan pleading for peace after his son was murdered by rioters.
There's also an online Time magazine write-up on Jahan naming him one of ten "heroes" of the UK riots. A different video is included with the article.
There's also an online Time magazine write-up on Jahan naming him one of ten "heroes" of the UK riots. A different video is included with the article.
The neon bobby patrol
9 Aug, policemen standing watch over Chamberlain Square; 9 Aug, a helicopter hovering overhead from the hotel balcony during the early chaos of the second night of riots; 12 Aug, outside the fence of St. Philip's Cathedral.
10 Aug, policemen patrolling Victoria Square; 9 Aug, riot vans at the corner of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street as seen from Victoria Square.
12 Aug, bobbies on patrol; 12 Aug, Victoria Square; 9 Aug, a helicopter as seen from Chamberlain Square.
10 Aug, policemen patrolling Victoria Square; 9 Aug, riot vans at the corner of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street as seen from Victoria Square.
12 Aug, bobbies on patrol; 12 Aug, Victoria Square; 9 Aug, a helicopter as seen from Chamberlain Square.
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