Nearly 2,000 convicted so far over London riots

A firefighter walks near the burnt out shell of Reeves Furniture store in Croydon, south London, following a third night of unrest on the streets of London Tuesday Aug. 9, 2011. / AP

(AP) LONDON - Sixteen gang members have received prison sentences ranging from 16 months to nine years for their role in Britain's riots a year ago.

The riots lasted from Aug. 7-10, 2011. They were triggered by the police killing of a London gang member and swept several English cities including the capital.

Chief London prosecutor Alison Saunders says the 16 punished Wednesday met each other through gang connections and launched "one of the most overt campaigns of violent disorder, burglary, robbery and assault seen during the London disorder."

Saunders says nearly 2,000 people have been convicted for crimes committed during the riots. Investigators are still checking surveillance footage as they try to identify other rioters.

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London riots: One year later