Vancouver Riots: Cameras Capture Graphic Beatings (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Vancouver Riots Police

The Huffington Post Canada   First Posted: 06/16/11 02:51 PM ET Updated: 08/16/11 06:12 AM ET

The Vancouver riots hardly gave the city a moment to reflect on its shattered Stanley Cup dream. Instead, the next day finds a nation reflecting on shattered windows, shops and bones.

Thanks to an unending stream of images, broadcast across the globe, we won't soon forget the teenaged girls kicking at store displays, the masked thugs carting merchandise from shops, and the howls of approval from the mob.

But when the smoke clears, it will be the human toll that most people will remember.

The Canadian Press is reporting at least 150 injuries, with at least one critical. Stories of stabbings, beatings and fractured skulls continue to emerge.

Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu said there were almost 100 arrests during the riots. "This criminal element within the crowd was responsible for the burning of 15 cars, including two police cars," he said.

"By 5 a.m. this morning, we had 120 tips." Chief Chu said the city is committed to finding anyone who destroyed buildings, looted, flipped cars or assaulted people who tried to intervene.

"We got the situation stabilized in three hours," said Chief Chu, praising Vancouver police for their swift action. "In 1994, it took almost six hours," he said, referring to an infamous hockey riot in the city that changed the way the department polices large crowds.

He said last night's riot crowds were three times the size of those in 1994.

Here are a few of the more disturbing stories and images to emerge from the riots.

WARNING: some of these images are graphic.

At the 4:53 mark, a woman finds her car surrounded by rioters. A young man wearing a back pack climbs on the roof and stomps down hard. The woman tries to hold up the vandal, as he slips into the crowd. But the feeding frenzy is already on. More kicks from the crowd land on the car, as the woman tries to stave them off. She pushes. The crowd shoves back.


Just after the three-minute mark in the video above, a man in a baseball hat stands in front of a shop window trying to stave off further looters. He tries to push them away. They push back. Within seconds, he's on the ground, buried in a flurry of punches and kicks.

Every now and then, however, it comes back around.

In the following clip, a young rioter takes a firecracker to the.. umm, groin.

The Vancouver community is also pushing back -- with more than 40,000 people already 'liking' the Facebook group, Vancouver Riot Pics. There seems to have been as many cameras in the crowd as rioters -- and idea the Facebook page capitalizes on.

"Let's post those pictures and put a label on the losers that made this city look so bad, ruined my neighborhood, and acted with out any class what so ever. We know you just took the photos, so post em, and let them speak a thousand words."

The effort has not gone unnoticed.

"The response from the public wanting to help the police identify the individuals involved in last night’s criminal activity has been overwhelming," read a Vancouver Police Department statement issued Thursday.

The department has issued its own instructions on how people can upload and anonymously send videos and images from the riot to investigators.

With a report from Scaachi Koul

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The Vancouver riots hardly gave the city a moment to reflect on its shattered Stanley Cup dream. Instead, the next day finds a nation reflecting on shattered windows, shops and bones. Thanks to an ...
The Vancouver riots hardly gave the city a moment to reflect on its shattered Stanley Cup dream. Instead, the next day finds a nation reflecting on shattered windows, shops and bones. Thanks to an ...
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GreenCanadian
is mixing the new record
10:08 AM on 06/18/2011
Every time the black bloc turn a peaceful protest into a riot the righties come out in force calling on the organizers of the protest to have to pay for the damage done. I am yet to hear one of those people call for the NHL to pay for the damage. When it's a protest the organizers should be responsible, when it's hockey it's only the rioters? Hmmm, what's that word that starts with H and ends with ypocrite? I forget.
07:58 AM on 06/18/2011
With the flick of a Bic Lighter, this kid threw his entire life off a cliff. And that should be the outcome. That is message we need to send to today's youth. That is how serious this is. Strip him of the taxpayer funded scholarship, ban him from playing waterpolo, ban him from any Canadian university, full travel restriction, no passport, full financial restitution regardless of how crushing it might be, (and mom & dad can't pay it). Police and Fire risk their lives everyday, actions like this kid's require ZERO tolerence.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GreenCanadian
is mixing the new record
10:29 AM on 06/18/2011
I agree, holding the people responsible to account for what they did is a great idea. When it's a protest I always hear calls for the people organizing the protest to pay for the damage done by rioters. The reasoning being that organizers should have known that rioters would attend. Should the same be applied to the NHL or city of Vancouver? With Vancouver's history of riots after hockey games in 94 and GnR concerts why did the city invite 100,000 people downtown without proper policing? At the NATO summit in Victoria there were police and fences surrounding the summit location. We had attendance of about 2000 people according to the Times Colonist. CBC is now blaming the riots on the same people who riot at protests. I hope that same assessment is made next time the black bloc turn a protest into a riot. I have helped organize protests, I know how much organizers despise the damage to property, it gives the people who don't want to listen to what we have to say a reason to ignore us.

This kid should be responsible for what he did, so should everyone who joined in. I just want the same distinction between protesters and rioters that the CBC is drawing between fans and rioters.
11:06 PM on 06/17/2011
Sore losers, with the emphasis on losers.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
marshallwyattearp
exposing the lies and deceit from all sides
05:02 PM on 06/17/2011
Looks like Socialism isn't working there either.

As for you idoits saying the parents should do something... The parents have no rights there... Just as the policies Hillary was trying to imp[lement in the US...

Remember???? "IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD!" People like that strip the parents of their rights to raise a well behaved young person.

Marshall
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Drak
12:11 AM on 06/18/2011
Keep your ign-orant right wing B-S out of it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
arkymorgan
Nobody knows the trouble I've been...
03:25 PM on 06/17/2011
Every Vancouver parent of teenagers who went down to watch the game ought to be scouring the photos and vids, and having a real serious talk with their kid.
02:16 PM on 06/17/2011
If it was up to me, I would put a ban on hockey in every city or town were fan respond the way this people are responding, even more, the Teams are as responsible as the fans for fomenting violence, this game brings only bad examples. I am sure that if Boston was the one loosing, the same exact situation would develop here. Again, Hockey as a "Sport" does not teach a thing, other than violence.
11:08 PM on 06/17/2011
Congrats to the Bruins, regardless of what Carlos W Rodriguez says.
11:39 AM on 06/17/2011
I would just like to point out that the hooligans and thugs arrived earlier in the day fully prepared to reek havoc on my city and home!! These children (I certainly would not call one of them a man), were not even in pre-school during the 1994 trouble. The drunken macho punk attitude, as well as thinking that they are anonymous within a crowd, frees them (in their tiny minds) to do the most disgusting and illegal things (they think), with impunity. To all of you vermin, your faces are on video and peoples cell phones and you WILL be found and held criminally responsible. You destroyed peoples property, turned over, smashed and burned their cars, broke into The Bay, Sears, London Drugs, Future Shop, and stole everything you could get your hands on. You better start sweating now because you are all facing lengthy jail sentences!! And don't you dare think that you can get away with pleading a first offence. Your depravity calls for a harsh sentence so that this will never again happen in Vancouver!!! You should all, as part of your sentence, be banned from ever attending anything in the downtown core again!
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
mrsmdressup
100% snark
01:22 PM on 06/17/2011
I don't live in Vancouver (I did when I was a small child) but I agree with you. These weren't hockey fans. These were toughs who went to create chaos, regardless of the series outcome. It's a shame that a small number of people have to ruin the fun for everyone else. I hope that everyone with pictures and video submits them to the police and that every single one of the instigators is arrested and locked up for a long time.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
Drak
12:17 AM on 06/18/2011
You know I hear this a fair bit, or that they weren't from Vancouver. However, they were Canucks' hockey fans, just the worst of the worst. Most of them had Canucks gear on for starters, jersey's worth over 200 bucks in some cases. Even if it was started by a select few, a lot of people joined in and participated. It's too bad these bad apples spoiled it for the rest, but they were fans.
04:29 AM on 06/17/2011
the rioters should be sentenced to be in the army and do a tour in Afganistan, then maybe they would understand just how lucky they are to live in such a beautiful place and have a little respect for it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
GreenCanadian
is mixing the new record
11:06 AM on 06/18/2011
That may be the wrong message to send to people we are supposedly trying to help. I think we could come up with a more fitting punishment, perhaps a life sentence of community service cleaning up public washrooms and a supervisor who just can't remember to bring the rubber gloves?
03:03 AM on 06/17/2011
this is just the problems of society coming up to surface. we are not living a balanced life right now and this is why something like this happened.

http://tenmillionslaves.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/the-reason-why-people-riot-after-sporting-events/
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
usrnmna
I like to bake.
08:05 AM on 06/17/2011
Wow, and you believe that load of cr@p? Mob mentality is the main cause.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gx5000
Life's too short, be happy..
11:31 AM on 06/17/2011
Although you raise a good point, it's just a side affect of over population in city centers.
Our cities are getting so big that we feel as strangers to one another.
The invisible mob flourishes in situations like that.
09:52 PM on 06/16/2011
First world problems suck. Rioting over hockey... poor form for Canadians...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
canadagirl76
A mind is like a parachute, they work best open.
09:45 PM on 06/16/2011
I am really trying not to sound over dramatic here, but I actually felt like crying after watching those videos. All I can do is shake my head & hope these losers will be caught & charged.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ryan Devine
09:28 PM on 06/16/2011
At least when this happens in Montreal it starts as a Celebration that criminals or the police escalate and ruin. Van-city proves itself to be incredibly whack as usual, its a shame such a pretty city is populated by such moronic and lame individuals.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
11:27 PM on 06/16/2011
The Guns and Roses riots in Montreal were started by who? What celebration?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ryan Devine
05:20 AM on 06/17/2011
not a real riot... especially in comparison.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
11:27 PM on 06/16/2011
And the suspension of Richard? Give me a break.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ryan Devine
05:20 AM on 06/17/2011
see aforementioned reasoning... NOT A REAL RIOT
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pleblian
One smart as meɪtər futūtor
08:50 PM on 06/16/2011
It's just like these ideots to riot over something that has little or no effect in their lives...
goleafsgo
A Lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.
07:45 PM on 06/16/2011
These videos of punks breaking the store windows are so reminiscent of the G20 in Toronto. I watched the live action on TV and my anger at these idiots who were destructing my city made me very angry. They lit police cars on fire and did the same things that were done to that woman's car - reveling in the their bravery! I watched in Toronto as the Police took all kinds of persecution from a small group of instigators. I do not hold the police responsible for the actions they took against these trouble makers in Toronto. I wish they had cracked a few heads!! I feel sorry for you Vancouverites. I hope justice is done.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
canadaloki
I can see Canada from my house!
08:28 PM on 06/16/2011
Just unbelievable!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Miss Ann Thrope
Left or right-wing, it's all the same bird
10:20 AM on 06/17/2011
The destruction in both Vancouver and Toronto was horrible, misplaced and uncalled for, but I take GREAT issue with your claim that the police took any actions against the troublemakers in Toronto. Did you see any cops stopping those vandalizing police cars and shop windows in Toronto? Nope. Are we actually to believe that thousands of police officers with riot-gear, truncheons, tear gas canisters, sonic cannons and rubber bullets were no match for a bunch of rock and stick-toting thugs with bandanas? Really? But the police DID round up anyone and everyone a full day later, including peaceful demonstrators, people simply leaving restaurants or people passing through the very neighbourhood in which they lived on their ways home. Think of it this way: If the police witnessed mask-wearing people breaking into and vandalizing your home and upon entering your home they found you and the now un-masked perpetrators fighting and their "solution" was to throw you ALL into a police van, bring you ALL down to the police station, lock you ALL up for 24hrs and only try to figure out who was truly the victim and who was the perpetrator after the fact, would you thank the police for their actions? This is NOT how law enforcement is supposed to work. And what about the millions we paid for those supposed security cameras which would have been broadcast in real time to police? How did they stop anything? I for one want my money back.
goleafsgo
A Lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.
08:19 PM on 06/17/2011
Miss Ann,
There was much to do about police inaction regarding the store windows and and the police cars claiming the police did nothing to stop it.  However, if you understood the logistics of the anarchist group from Quebec and other areas outside Toronto, you know that this was a planned, almost military action that was formulated to get in behind the police lines and thus into the restricted area of the Summit meeting.   Police were well aware of these people.  They knew who they were.  They knew their tactics from other riots in other cities across Canada and the US.   These thugs knew that they could get many of the crowd on their side and encouraged their participation.  They used the crowd to block police and using cell phones they were able to keep one step ahead of the police. 

The restricted area required a solid  line of defense. I do not know the what exactly the police strategy was other than to keep  those in the G20 meeting from harm.   These foreign dignitaries were guests in our country and it was our responsibility to keep them safe.    Can you imagine these fools breaking through the police barricades with the intent to disrupt and God knows what else.  That line had to be held at all costs.  Wouldn't you agree?

Distractions were set up all over the place and one such area was included store fronts.  Another, police cars.   Certainly, smashing the windows and setting the cars on fire would ordinarily require police stop this vandalism, but it was secondary to the protection of those foreign dignitaries - our guests.  

The police knew who these people were.  Dealing with a mob mentality is a very scary, terrifying in fact, thing.   Trying to prevent injuries to those curious bystanders limited the action against these guys.  They were well aware of this and exploited it to the nth degree.  This is what happens all over the world when these people decide to create trouble for the government.  They know their stuff.

I do not fault the police for rounding up those who were in the vicinity and refused to back off, or leave.  Those innocent protesters did not stay around - those who had their families- their children walking peacefully in protest.  They feared for their well-being and left.   Unfortunately, some innocent people were arrested..  They were eventually released.  But the anarchists did their job well.  They wanted these people arrested.  They wanted protests of police brutality by the general public. 

cont'd
goleafsgo
A Lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.
08:42 PM on 06/17/2011
Many stories have been circulated about this day.  I for one am proud of our police force.  They took much abuse, and held the line.   When you compare similar instances in other countries where mobs have tried to disrupt these meetings, many people, including innocent bystanders were hurt and even killed.
This did not happen in Toronto.  Their were some minor injuries,  and some inconveniences, but on the whole they were insignificant when compared to the States and other countries around the world.

You ask if I condone the police arresting everyone and then checking to see who was innocent.  What the heck did you think they were going to do?  Ask them politely if they had anything to do with the riots or window smashing or car burning or stone throwing?  If they said No, not me. they would believe them.  Give me a break.   Defiance and challenges were met with arrests.   I do not blame the police for their actions.   They are there to serve and protect and that is what they did.

Oh, and BTW, how is law enforcement supposed to work?   Do you have a plan the police can follow when the next round of anarchists rioting begins.  I am sure we would all like to know how you would handle a mob intent on destruction and harm.
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Toddynho
I needs proof read more!
07:38 PM on 06/16/2011
The best way for Canada to grab some respect back in terms of the international community who are watching this, is make one helluva big example of those who were involved this travesty.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
canadaloki
I can see Canada from my house!
08:29 PM on 06/16/2011
I hope they can do it.