July 1996. More than 2000 people rioted, burnt shops and offices and threw more than 1000 petrol bombs at the security forces, who in turn fired about 1000 plastic bullets.

A man died that night, crushed by an armoured vehicle in midst of the chaos, the driver unable to see him through the smoke in the darkened streets.

While he lay on the ground receiving mouth to mouth from another policeman trying to save his life, a rioter came out of the crowd and smashed a bottle into the policeman’s face, slicing it open.

It was a moment of unthinking stupidity that will stay with me.