British Prime Minister said his government may block social media, as police have arrested over 1,700 rioters across the United Kingdom.
British Prime Minister said his government may block social media, as police have arrested over 1,700 rioters across the United Kingdom.
In a speech at the House of Common, David Cameron said on Thursday he was considering all options to control the riots, including deployment of army and restricting social media, like Twitter and BlackBerry.
“Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them”, said Cameron.
He added that 16,000 officers would remain in London streets through the weekend and that “whatever resources the police need, they will get.”
“Whatever tactics the police feel they need to employ, they have legal backing to do it.”
The British PM also promised to arrest everyone related to the recent violence in the country, saying: “We are making technology work for us, by capturing the images of the perpetrators on CCTV - so even if they haven't yet been arrested, their faces are known and they will not escape the law.”
“No phony human rights concerns about publishing photographs will get in the way of bringing these criminals to justice,” he said.
DEATH TOLL RAISES
On the other hand, the number of people killed during massive unrest across England has climbed as a 68-year-old retired man died in hospital on Thursday night.
Richard Mannington Bowes, who went in a coma after being attacked by an angry crowd in Ealing during Monday's violence, died late Thursday night, prompting detectives to launch a murder inquiry.
His death came only after the suspicious death of three Muslim men that were run down by a car when trying to protect their fellow community members during the persisting unrest in Birmingham, and the murder of a 26-year-old man that was shot in a car in Croydon.
ARREST OPERATIONS
Police in London said Friday they have charged almost 600 people with violence, disorder and looting over deadly riots in Britain's capital.
Across the country, more than 1,700 people have been arrested. Courts in London, Birmingham and Manchester stayed open through a second night to deal with alleged offenders.
Hundreds of stores were looted, buildings were set ablaze and several people died amid the mayhem that broke out Saturday in London and spread over four nights across England.
