Police bring about order in Bristol, England, area

April 4, 1980

Reinforced police imposed order Thursday in a run-down district of Bristol where hundreds of black youths, some only 12 years old, went on a six-hour rampage of burning and looting that left at least 25 people injured and buildings and cars burned.

The violence began Wednesday over resentment sparked by a police raid on a Jamaican social club. Bristol residents described the incident as an explosion of latent bitterness between police and the community, which has problems of high unemployment, prostitution, and drug traffic.