Manchester rioters set shop ablaze

Rioters have set fire to a Miss Selfridge shop on Market Street in Manchester city centre this evening.

Hundreds of youths ran down the street smashing the windows on another clothes store, while dozens tried to force the door of the Arndale shopping centre.

Hundreds of riot police had tried to move crowds who had gathered on Piccadilly Gardens, leading to running battles with youngsters wearing masks and hoods.

Greater Manchester Police said it had been "engaged" with dealing with outbreaks of minor disorder in Salford and Manchester city centre this afternoon, involving "a small number of youths".

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "A handful of shops have been attacked by groups of youths who have congregated and seem intent on committing disorder.

"As we have said, we will not allow such mindless criminal damage and wanton violence to go unpunished and we will arrest and prosecute anyone found to be involved in looting or acts of criminal damage.

"Increased numbers of officers are on the ground both responding to any incidents and dispersing any groups of youths before they commit any crimes.

"We have already made a number of arrests and will continue to target those who seem determined to commit disorder.

"I want to take this opportunity to appeal for calm among members of our community who maybe concerned. We would advise they stay out of the city centre while we assess the scale of any disorder and report any concerns they have to us."

Mr Sweeney added: "Lastly, I again want to remind people to follow GMP's official responses on our social networking sites and not believe some of the rumours and speculation.

"Such gossip is unhelpful and causing unnecessary fear in our communities. We have already made one arrest of a man on suspicion of using Facebook to incite disorder and we will not hesitate to arrest anyone involved in this type of criminal activity."

Earlier, hundreds of youths were involved in a stand-off with riot police four miles away at Salford Shopping City.

A Bargain Booze was looted and the windows of the Money Shop smashed.

Smoke also billowed from a council housing office, apparently set on fire during the trouble.

Mr Sweeney posted on the force's Twitter account: "Aware of pockets of minor disorder in Salford city centre. Advising people to stay out of city centre but also keep calm."

Around 100 youths looted Foot Asylum in the Arndale Centre after two raiders smashed open the glass entrance with a large stone slab.

Once the glass was shattered, youngsters rushed in and carried out clothing and shoes.

They dispersed towards Deansgate when a police van arrived at the scene and a lone officer in riot gear stepped out.

Officers with dogs then began to patrol the area.

A line of officers then blocked the bottom of Market Street at the junction with Cross Street.

Sporadic looting broke out across the city centre, with gangs playing cat and mouse with riot police. Looters broke into a Diesel clothing shop and a Bang & Olufsen store.

They threw stones and other missiles at shop windows, whooping and shouting as they ran from police.

A cafe on Deansgate also had its windows smashed.

Riot police in vans chased large groups of youths wearing ski masks and hoods as they rampaged through the city streets.