Why Is London Burning?

Flames filled the pictures on front pages of newspapers here in Britain on Sunday. Even the desperate financial condition of Europe and America took a backseat while Britons examined the aftermath of a night that hearkens back to riots in the same suburb 25 years ago.

Violence, looting and arson erupted in one of London’s northern suburbs on Saturday night, Aug. 6. Millions of pounds of damage was done to local businesses. Dramatic pictures of shops burning have hit the media, and many people in Tottenham are shaking their heads at the burned-out cars, bus, two police cars and the smashed storefronts along Tottenham High Road.

Dozens of people living in apartments above the shops had to flee for their lives, leaving their meager possessions to burn. Fire engines worked to douse the flames and riot police attempted to bring calm to the neighborhood.

Events had turned ugly after some who joined a legitimate nonviolent protest became upset at the alleged treatment of some of the protesters. The crowd that gathered at the local police station demanded answers from the police over the shooting of a local 29-year-old man last Thursday. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating how the young man died, but no conclusions had been given to the dead man’s parents and family.

The escalation of destructive behavior after midnight became evident as the new day dawned Sunday. Flames continued to appear sporadically, with smoke rising above the empty shells of buildings and melted metal of torched vehicles. Forty or more people were in police custody for questioning about their activities Saturday night.

“Come and get it”

Texting and social media were used to quickly attract anarchists and looters to the scene. Clothing stores, banks, electronic goods stores and drugstores became targets even outside the main protest zone. Rioting spread to other parts of the city on Sunday and Monday, and now more than 200 have been arrested.

Some commentators point to the social divide that makes looting attractive to underprivileged segments of society. But after the police moved to quell attacks on shops Sunday night in the neighboring area of Enfield, young people were seen to drive away in their cars to the next hot spot.

Despite the relatively cool summer weather, this could be the start of a hot summer of discontent in parts of Britain. The economy is flat, and many young people have been unable to find jobs. Lots of time and little money do not make happy young adults. But that does not excuse those who give in to the desire for quick acquisition through stealing from a smashed storefront.

An overhaul is coming

Our society desperately needs an overhaul. How much better would our lives be if everyone had “you shall not steal” written into their thought processes (Exodus 20:15; Hebrews 10:16). Keeping the commandments of God will be a hallmark of God’s Kingdom—soon to be set up on this earth by the returning Jesus Christ.

The chief rebel, terrorist and anarchist is Satan. Once he has been removed from being the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) and Jesus Christ rules the earth, the way of peace will begin to spread (Revelation 20:2-4). Riots, looting and violence will be things of the past. Read more about this in our booklet The Mystery of the Kingdom.

Peter Hawkins is a minister of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in London, England.