History of Riot in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 12, 2026

Riot Games is a prominent American video game developer, publisher, and esports tournament organizer. Founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, the company achieved global fame with the launch of its debut title, League of Legends, in 2009. The game became a cornerstone of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre and a primary driver behind the massive growth of the professional esports industry. Beyond League of Legends, Riot has expanded its intellectual property into diverse media, including the critically acclaimed animated series Arcane, and has diversified its gaming portfolio with titles like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Wild Rift. Owned by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent, Riot Games is recognized for its strong focus on community engagement, long-term live service updates, and significant contributions to the development of competitive gaming culture worldwide.

1948: Repeal of provisions by the Statute Law Revision Act 1948

In 1948, specific legislative provisions were officially repealed through section 1 of and the first schedule to the Statute Law Revision Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 62).

1962: Enactment of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

In 1962, the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 was passed into legislation, specifically incorporating provisions found in paragraph 13 of Schedule 5 which addressed electoral procedures and regulations.

1967: Enactment of the Criminal Law Act 1967

In 1967, the Criminal Law Act 1967 was passed, which included provisions in section 10(2) and part I of schedule 3 to repeal previous legislation.

January 1968: Implementation of the Criminal Law Act 1967

On 1 January 1968, the repeal provisions established by the Criminal Law Act 1967 officially came into force, effectively repealing the remaining portions of the previous act.

1970: Commencement of Rubber Bullet Usage in Northern Ireland

Starting in 1970, the use of rubber bullets as a crowd control measure in Northern Ireland began, eventually contributing to a series of fatalities over the following decades.

1977: Egyptian Bread Riots

In 1977, the Egyptian Bread Riots occurred as a mass uprising involving hundreds of thousands of people. The unrest was triggered by the government's decision to discontinue food subsidies, which resulted in a sharp increase in the price of essential items, including bread.

July 1981: Civil Disorder in Dundee and Edinburgh

In July 1981, Dundee and Edinburgh experienced significant periods of civil disorder that mirrored the unrest occurring elsewhere in England during the same month.

1983: Repeal of 2 Hen. 5. Stat. 1 in Ireland

In 1983, the statute 2 Hen. 5. Stat. 1 was officially repealed for the Republic of Ireland through the enactment of section 1 of, and part 2 of the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1983.

1986: Enactment of the Public Order Act 1986

In 1986, the Public Order Act 1986 was established, introducing Section 10 which outlines specific legal provisions regarding public order and conduct within the United Kingdom.

April 1987: Abolition of the common law offence of riot

On 1 April 1987, the common law offence of riot was officially abolished within the jurisdictions of England and Wales.

1988: Establishment of Rules of Engagement for Plastic Bullets

In 1988, the Israeli army implemented new formal rules of engagement regarding the use of plastic bullets. These regulations officially defined a "violent riot" as any disturbance involving three or more individuals that includes specific actions such as throwing stones, constructing barriers or barricades, or burning tires.

1992: 1992 Los Angeles Riots

During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, widespread violence resulted in 2,383 injuries, over 12,000 arrests, and 55 deaths, including ten individuals killed by law enforcement or National Guard forces. Additionally, the event caused over $1 billion in property damage, with more than 700 businesses destroyed.

1994: Localized Rioting in Edinburgh

During 1994, Edinburgh experienced a localized riot that remained confined to a specific area and was not considered part of a larger national trend of unrest.

1995: Enactment of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995

In 1995, the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 was enacted, which includes section 235 pertaining to specific regulations regarding riots and shipping, alongside the historical Riot (Damages) Act 1886.

2000: Enactment of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000

In 2000, the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 was introduced following significant rioting by England fans during the Euro 2000 tournament. This legislation granted authorities the power to ban offenders from football grounds and require them to surrender their passports during international matches to prevent further travel-related hooliganism.

2005: Conclusion of Thirty-Five Year Period of Rubber Bullet Fatalities

By 2005, a thirty-five year study period recorded seventeen total deaths directly attributed to the use of rubber bullets by authorities in Northern Ireland.

2005: 2005 French Riots

In 2005, France experienced widespread riots that persisted for more than three weeks, impacting nearly 300 towns. The unrest resulted in the destruction of over 10,000 vehicles, the burning of 300 buildings, and more than 2,800 arrests, causing an estimated €200 million in damages while leaving 126 emergency responders injured.

2008: Legal Classification of Riot in Northern Ireland

In 2008, the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 was enacted, which formally established that riot constitutes a serious offense under the provisions of Chapter 3 of the legislation.

August 2011: English Riots

In August 2011, a widespread series of riots took place across England, serving as a point of historical reference for subsequent localized unrest in Scotland.

2013: Localized Rioting in Edinburgh

In 2013, two years after the nationwide English riots of 2011, Edinburgh saw a new instance of localized rioting that did not form part of a broader riot wave.