London Rioting Prompts Apple to Close Stores, Clear Out Stock

UK Apple retail stores are closing business until authorities put an end to the rioting over the death of Mark Duggan, reports from the country indicate.

As one of the most tempting targets for thieves worldwide, Apple is clearing out stock in its UK retail stores to avoid vandalism and looting from rioters.

According to reports, the Apple Store in Liverpool has cleared out its inventory entirely, with several others following suit.

The Regent Street store closed early yesterday, as did some Apple resellers in the area where armed police guards are keeping watch, according to other reports from the country.

As pretty much every Brit should know by now, on 4 August 2011 during a police interception in Tottenham, London, England, Mark Duggan, an alleged drug dealer and gang member, was shot and killed by armed police officers in a confrontation.

According to reports, the Metropolitan Police stopped Duggan in minicab at about 18:15 BST, with the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) initially saying it appeared a police officer had been shot, and police had returned fire.

During the confrontation, Duggan was killed by a single gunshot to the chest. He was pronounced dead at 18:41 BST, but there is still a lot of debate as to whether the man had actually opened fire first.

Police reports say he was, indeed, carrying a loaded Bruni BBM .380 blank-firing starting pistol illegally converted to fire live ammunition.

His shooting triggered riots in Tottenham which later spread to all of UK. The riots continue to this day, with looting and arson being part of every day activities in some territories.

In some parts of the country where rioting has stopped volunteers are now cleaning up the mess left behind in an act of solidarity.