Small businesses and homes were devastated and communities were in turmoil today (9 August), following a third night of rioting across the capital. Ordinary Londoners were left reeling in the wake of the sheer level of violence, which broke out across at least five boroughs, with masked gangs of youths setting fire to buildings, looting shops and terrorising local residents. Extraordinary scenes unfolded as people who had owned their own stores for generations saw them wiped out within 10 minutes and families were ushered to safety as the neighborhoods they had known and lived in for years erupted in mayhem.
Amid the chaos and confusion, there were also plenty of stories of heroics that underlined a strong community spirit in the face of adversity. In Croydon, a crowd of people gathered to help a woman jump from the front floor of her burning home. Over in Tottenham, a thinly spread police force helped local people find refuge against a spreading inferno. Elsewhere in Clapham and Peckham, shocked bystanders looked on aghast at the damage done to their surroundings and vowed to pull together and make it stop.
As the crisis continues, Stylist takes a look at some of the most shocking photos to come out of the riots - and the moments of incredible humanity that have arisen out of an event threatening to blight our city and our homes.
Click on the images below to launch the gallery.
Picture credits: WENN, Rex Features and Getty Images
London riots in photos
A woman leaps from the ro0f of a burning building in Croydon. A crowd of people wait below to catch her and carry her to safety.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Street fires outside resident buildings in Goulton Road, Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Local residents flee Clarence Road in Hackney as the area is beset by fires, looting and sporadic violence.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Two women run away from a building fire in Tottenham, north London.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Firefighters struggle to contain a building fire in Croydon.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A double decker bus is set alight in Tottenham, north London.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
The remains of the bus after the fire.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A fatigued policeman in full riot gear walks past a burning car in Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A car burns outside a Carhartt store in Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Riot police form a line in a stand-off against gangs in Peckham, south London.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A woman surveys the damage in a looted Debenhams store in Clapham Junction.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Police in riot gear stand near a burning car as it explodes in Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A girl looks at damage caused by looters in a pawn shop on Clapham High Street.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A burnt-out building in the aftermath of riots in Tottenham, north London.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Policemen keep spectators off a street in Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A building fire blazes in Croydon.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Local residents watch the riots erupt across Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Broken glass and shop goods lie on the floor at the entrance to a Debenhams store in Clapham Junction.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Smoke billows from a building in Clapham Junction, as firefighters battle to contain the blaze.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Children flee Clarence Road in Hackney as riots erupt.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Youths walk past one of the many fires lit in the streets of Hackney while residents watch outside their houses.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A burnt-out house out on Tottenham High Road.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Aerial shots show fire-damaged buildings smoldering in the Tottenham area.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Another shot of fire-damaged buildings smoldering in the Tottenham area.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A car on fire in Albion Way, opposite Lewisham shopping centre.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Masked rioters set fire to local pawnbrokers building in Croydon.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Police watch on as the rioters police watch on masked rioters set fire to local pawnbrokers building in Croydon.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Rioters break into a local chemist in Croydon stripping the store bare before police moved in to secure the area.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A Toni and Guy hair salon with smashed windows in Clapham Junction.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Police on horseback amid riots in Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Riot police face the crowds in Peckham.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Police secure a junction on Clarence Road, Hackney.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
Buildings burn on Tottenham High Road.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A fire burns at a construction site during riots in Tottenham.
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
London riots in photos
A picture taken at Finsbury Park on Tuesday morning and tweeted by @WillyDean
Watch one woman's inspiring speech aimed at the rioting youths here
Topics
undefined
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.