As the smoke begins to clear, the victims are left with a simple question

A HUMAN river of anarchy flowed through London. It swelled from a blood-stained taxi in Tottenham and surged into a torrent which tore through the inner city, burst into affluent outer suburbs and briefly threatened to smash across the West End.

By the time Britain finally retook the streets of its own capital after four nights of chaos and mob rule, lawlessness had fanned out to other cities as the world looked on in horror.

The shooting dead by police of suspected gang member Mark Duggan in the back of a minicab triggered the initial community anger which left parts of Tottenham ablaze last Saturday, but the genuine anger felt at the perceived lack of communication and respect shown by Scotland Yard to his grieving family was soon overtaken by more sinister forces.