Riots in London have left 111 police officers and five service dogs injured, Scotland Yard said in a statement on Tuesday.
Scotland Yard said many officers remain hospitalized with broken bones, head injuries, serious cuts and eye injuries from broken glass. Rioters have been throwing bricks, bottles, sticks and other objects at police who are trying to keep order in the streets of London for a third day in a row, as looting and fires continue in the capital.
Five police dogs have also been injured in various attacks. One was seriously injured when hit on the head with a brick. One dog had its teeth broken out by an object thrown at it. The remaining dogs were injured by bottles and other items hurled in their direction.
Scotland Yard said mounted police and their horses, though both are very exhausted, have so far not been injured in the riots.
British police are considering the possible use of plastic bullets against rioters in London for the first time ever in a British disturbance, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said earlier on Tuesday.
London police have refrained from using any riot control weapons or firearms against rioters in the past three days. However, an emergency COBRA meeting resolved that harsher measures are needed to curb the rioting.
According to the latest police statistics, 563 rioters have been detained and 105 of them have been accused of disrupting public order, destroying property, and theft.
About 60% of all the United Kingdom's police force were deployed in London. A record number of police, 16,000, will be on duty in the capital over the next 24 hours.
Hundreds of people were arrested Monday night after looting, violence and arson spread across London and other cities. Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the British parliament would be recalled from summer recess.
