More charges coming after St. Patrick’s Day riot
Posted March 18, 2012 10:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LONDON, ON (NEWS1130) – London Police Chief Brad Duncan says more arrests will be coming after London, Ont. witnessed one of the worst riots in its history.
Duncan said the scene, in a student enclave east of Fanshawe College, resembled a “war zone,” and was an extremely charged situation.
The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations got out of hand when hundreds of revelers spent much of Saturday night fueling a large street fire and attacking authorities who tried to intervene.
The cost of the damage has been estimated at $100,000, and Duncan said it was clear to him the people responsible “are under the illusion they can engage in unlawful behaviour.” Duncan added that this was not the case, saying police would be going over video and tracking down those responsible for the damage.
London’s mayor has come on record saying he never wants something like this to happen again, while Duncan said such disrespect for the community would not be tolerated.
A few people were hurt by the flames and District Fire Chief Jim Holmes says they were treated for burns, but their injuries were “nothing too serious.”
Riot police eventually moved in just after 4 a.m. when the crowd thinned out.
Eleven people have been arrested and 17 police vehicles were damaged.
