London Riots: Could it Kill the 2012 Olympics?

With the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony set for less than a year from today, security will be a top priority for police as rioting rages on. Today, representatives of more than 200 national Olympic committees are in London for meetings about logistics and accommodation, according to Bloomberg. With the recent riots, there is a possibility that safety and security could be added to that list. The riots were sparked by the death of 29-year-old Mark Duggan in Tottenham, North London. Duggan died last Thursday after being shot in the chest by London's Scotland Yard, according to ABC News. Five days later, more than 500 people have been arrested, at least 111 police officers have been injured, one person has died and several buildings have been completely engulfed in flames in one of the largest riots in England's modern history. British Prime Minister David Cameron said there will be 16,000 police officers on duty in London tonight, up from 6,000 last night. The rioting has seen petrol bombs being thrown, buildings set on fire and shops being ransacked, Cameron said. Disruptions in Sports Most sporting events occurring this week are set to continue, including the beach volleyball match at the Horse Guards Parade and the London-Surrey cycling race. However, the England-Netherlands friendly international soccer match at Wembley stadium in northwest London has been canceled. Wembley stadium is home to the English national team and is the second largest soccer stadium in Europe with 90,000 seats. The Carling Cup, featuring West Ham United and Aldershot, has been postponed after a request by the police. The London boroughs that are affected by the rioting include Hackney, Newham, Lewisham, Bethnal Green, Ealing, Croydon and Hackney. The main security risk is Newham due to its importance to the Olympic Games. The borough is home to Olympic park, which hosts swimming, cycling, handball, and basketball in addition to the opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympic stadium. "The events of the past few days have had no impact on our planning and preparation," The British Olympic Association said. "The primary responsibility for security rests with law enforcement authorities, who work closely with the Games organizing committee and other bodies to ensure every measure is taken to provide a safe and secure environment." Social Media Response In an effort to help clean up the city, homeowners in London have reached out to Twitter with @Riotcleanup, according to the Wall Street Journal. While social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have helped spur the cleanup efforts, they have also unleashed a medium for organizing riots. Besides social media, Research In Motion's RIMM BlackBerry Messenger has been at the forefront of communication between rioters due to its use by a reported 37 percent of British youth. Using a pin to connect to other users, the application is popular because BlackBerry automatically encrypts its messages, according to Wired. This has created larger problems for the London police who are trying to prevent the spread of looting and crime. "We feel for those impacted by the riots in London. We have engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can," Patrick Spence, the managing director regional marketing at Research In Motion (RIM), told the Guardian.