Surprising picture emerges of alleged rioters

From an organic chef and an opera house steward to a university student, a surprising picture emerged on Wednesday of some of the alleged troublemakers behind Britain's worst riots for decades.

While many involved seemed to fit a picture of youngsters from broken families marginalised by society, the first court appearances of some of the more than 1,000 people arrested suggested a broader cross-section took part.

In London alone, a total of 770 people have been arrested over the violence and at least 105 have been charged. Reports said at least 40 appeared in court Tuesday as authorities seek to fast-track suspects to clear the backlog.

Fitzroy Thomas, a 43-year-old organic chef, was accused with his brother Ronald, 47, of smashing up a branch of the Nando's chicken restaurant chain in Clapham, south London, the Times reported.

via ca.news.yahoo.com