For hours now, police have been clashing with rioters in the south and east of the city as buildings burn into the night. Acting Metropolitan police commissioner Tim Godwin said: "There is significant disorder breaking out in a number of our communities across London."

Prime Minister David Cameron is returning early from his summer holiday to deal with the continuing riots. A Downing Street spokeswoman said Cameron was flying back from Italy overnight to chair the government's Cobra emergency committee.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has also cut short his family holiday and will be back Tuesday afternoon.

Al Jazeera's Victoria Eastwood has the latest.