On 3 January 1911, in the heart of London's mainly Jewish East End, police discovered Latvian revolutionaries wanted for the murder of three officers. A six-hour gunfight ensued, with a fire consuming the besieged building. Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary, arrived at the scene and ordered the blaze not to be extinguished. Afterwards two charred bodies were found; the elusive Peter the Painter, believed to have been the ringleader, remained at large. This gripping episode, known as the 'Siege of Sidney Street', was a nationwide sensation and ignited fierce debates on immigration to Britain, political extremism and law enforcement. This book unravels the full story of the siege, the Latvian emigres and their ties to the vibrant anarchist movement in London's East End.

About the Author
Andrew Whitehead is a historian and lecturer with over thirty years of experience in public broadcasting, including as editor of the BBC World Service. His publications include Curious Crouch End.


Book Information
ISBN 9781789148442
Author Andrew Whitehead
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Reaktion Books
Publisher Reaktion Books