What is 1981 Brixton riot?
The '''Brixton riot''' of 11 April 1981 was the biggest of three [[riot]]s in [[Brixton]], [[London]], and the biggest riot in London. ==Brixton before the riots== Brixton in [[south London]] was a very poor inner-city area with many problems — high [[unemployment]], much [[crime]], bad housing. Many [[black people]], mostly of [[Caribbean]] origin, lived there. Many people there disliked the [[police]]. ==The evening of April 10== The riot was unplanned. On the evening of the 10th, at around 5.15pm, a black boy with a knife wound was stopped by police. As he was brought to a police car by two policemen along [[Railton Road]] a large crowd attacked the police and the fight only ended when more policemen arrived; the youth was taken to hospital. ==The night of April 10 and 11== Through the night of the 10th and on the 11th the police brought many officers into the area. Throughout the day crowds slowly got together. In early evening, as the police tried to make some [[arrest]]s on [[Atlantic Road]], the riots started: a few bricks were thrown and windows smashed. More police came and more things were thrown. The police retreated, leaving their cars to be burned. Other cars were burned and things were stolen from shops on Railton Road, [[Mayall Road]], [[Leeson Road]] and [[Brixton Road]] before the police came back. The police closed the Atlantic-Railton-Mayall area to the public, although many other streets had groups of rioting people as well. The rioters started throwing with bricks, bottles, and [[Molotov cocktail]]s. Cars and buildings were burned and [[fire engine]]s attacked as they tried to stop the flames. The riot was at its peak at around 8pm, with two [[public house]]s, schools and other buildings burning. Two hours later the police had the area under some control, although the [[fire brigade]] returned at the next morning only. By 1am the area was largely under control, with no large crowds – except the police – on the streets. There were tries to start violence again on the 12th, but they were