Kingston riot rumours 'unfounded'
By RachelEngland | Tuesday, August 09, 2011, 15:02
Kingston saw no rioting last night, despite many rumours and speculation circulating social networking sites.
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Reports of rioting in Kingston proved untrue
Reports that shops had been looted, Kingston University campus had been set on fire and Kingston train station had been closed were proved untrue.
Pubs and clubs in the town centre closed early as a precautionary measure and extra police were pulled into the area, but the evening passed peacefully.
Sarah Flemming, 27, was in Kingston last night and said that the atmosphere was tense, but she saw no evidence of rioting:
"Everyone was anxious. Some of the pubs were showing news reports about what was happening in central London and everyone was a bit scared about it all moving down here, but as far as I could see nothing happened."
Kingston police, firefighters and support staff were drafted in to other areas to help control the situation, namely in Croydon, which saw huge fires, widespread rioting and the riots' first fatality.
Comments
The problem is, people start shouting their mouths off on Twitter about where the supposed riots are, so people congregate there, gawping to see what the action is, tensions rise and then things kick off. Social media has been helpful in tracking the riots but it's definately propagated some of the violence too.
By BasilBee at 22:10 on 09/08/11
ReportThe whole situation is just terrible, and it's made worse by false rumours. My elderly neighbour heard that one of the estates was one fire and came round in floods of tears, she was so frightened.
By Evil_Custard at 21:39 on 09/08/11
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