London Riots: It Could Happen Here, Couldn't It?

By Kenneth R. Bazinet

There was more violence and arson fires overnight in London for a third day and it is spreading to other British cities now.

A Sony warehouse was torched overnight, but not before looters were reportedly seen fleeing with electronics equipment.

After returning from vacation for an emergency cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister David Cameron said there will be 16,000 police officers on the streets tonight — 10 times more than were out last night.

“You will feel the full force of the law,” Cameron said in words aimed at the violent bands of rioters.

There have been more than 330 arrests and dozens of police hurt in exchanges with rock- and fire-bomb hurling thugs.

Individuals have been robbed, homes burned and businesses destroyed in the indiscriminate wave of violence.

The violence was originally touched off by the weekend shooting of a 29-year-old man by police, but the troubles have expanded to roaming gangs on mostly young looters. Some observers believe the lousy British economy is spurring jobless Brits from taking to the streets.

If that is indeed the case, it begs the question, Could it happen here?

Read more from Kenneth R. Bazinet at The Baz File