Ealing riot victim dies – man arrested

Local residents and police attended to Mr Bowes’ injuries at the scene, pictured below, after he was set upon by a mob in Ealing on Monday during the London riots. However, he slipped into a coma and died late last night.

Police launched a murder inquiry on Friday morning and have now arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with his death.

Mr Bowes, 68, who was described yesterday as a “hero” by London Mayor Boris Johnson, is the fifth person to die as a result of violence during the riots.

Three men in Birmingham were run down by a car as they attempted to protect their community from looters, and a 26-year old man was shot during disturbances in Croydon.

There are suggestions Mr Bowes was attacked because he was trying to stamp out fires started by rioters.

Angie Bray, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said his death was an “appalling tragedy”.

Ms Bray added: “He was clearly a good neighbour and an upstanding citizen. On the night when he was attacked, he was simply doing his duty as a loyal member of the local community.

“Obviously, our thoughts must be with his family and friends at this sad time, but the whole community has lost a good friend. Society can ill afford to lose decent people like Mr Mannington Bowes. We are all the poorer without him.”

Ealing Council plans to launch an appeal to help all vicitms of the riot in the borough to be called the Richard Mannington Bowes Relief Fund. The council flew the Union Flag half-mast above Ealing town hall today as a mark of respect.

Aftermath

Mr Bowes’ death came as a second wave of rioters and looters face justice in the courts today. More than 1,700 people have been arrested across the country in connection to the four nights of chaos, with some 600 people charged so far.

The courts are working very, very well and some very significant sentences are being handed down and that is frankly what Londoners want to see. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Courts have been working through the night to deal with the deluge of cases. Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “Suspects have been arrested in connection with the death of Mr Bowes in Ealing. So its very, very significant.

“I think the police are moving ahead very fast and I think we have got over a thousand arrests now in London. The courts are working very, very well and some very significant sentences are being handed down and that is frankly what Londoners want to see.”

Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee later after he he vowed on Thursday to do “whatever it takes” to restore order to the streets.

Communities are also continuing their “riot clean-up” efforts as areas try to move on. Police remained out in force overnight in London and other riot-hit cities, but no further major incidents were reported.