Vehicles were set on fire and a police car was overturned as residents were warned to stay home following an outbreak of disorder in a Leeds suburb.
The Home Secretary condemned the “shocking scenes and attacks” in Harehills, east Leeds, where there was a “large” police presence last night (Thursday), with helicopters deployed to the area.
Livestream footage on social media described Leeds as a “warzone”. It showed vehicles, including a bus, ablaze, while other videos showed an overturned police car on the road with its blue lights flashing, sirens blaring, car alarms going off and crowds of people in the street – some of them shouting.
A local restaurant owner said the chaos was linked to local children being taken into care, adding that some people in the community responded by setting fires and “throwing stones”.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a post on X: “I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles & public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this nature has no place in our society.”
Riesa, a pharmacy dispenser who did not want to give her last name, witnessed “quite violent” scenes, telling the PA news agency she saw people throwing items at police officers and cars.
The 26-year-old, who lives off Harehills Lane, said: “They were attacking police cars, throwing things at the police cars – anything they could pick up off the floor really. Rocks from the garden, rubbish, drinks, anything.
“Drinks were definitely being throwing at the police – water or juice or fizzy drinks, or anything they had in their hands basically, at the cars because [the police] were trying not to get too close because it was quite violent.”
She said about an hour later, when she was back home, she heard “chanting and screaming” from outside, adding that it sounded like “a thousand people”.
First Bus confirmed one of the company’s vehicles was set on fire with another caught up in the chaos.
A spokesperson for the company in Leeds said: “Two of our vehicles have been caught up in the public disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds this evening.
“We can confirm that both drivers are unhurt and we have no reports of injuries to passengers.
“One of our vehicles has been set on fire but was empty as the customers had earlier been transferred to another bus together with the driver.”
The spokesperson said all services are being diverted from the area of Harehills caught up in disorder.
As of 8.15pm on Thursday, West Yorkshire Police said no one had been reported injured and the Mayor of West Yorkshire said she was “reassured” there had been no serious injuries in a social media post later that night.
Tracy Brabin thanked emergency services and said: “I’m reassured no one has been seriously injured but suggest those who are using this to inflame community tensions to think again.”
Officers were called to an incident at an address in Luxor Street at 5pm on Thursday where they found an “ongoing disturbance” involving agency workers and children, West Yorkshire Police said.
More people started to attend the location and the agency workers and children were taken to a safe place.
A crowd started to gather and more officers were requested to attend the area where “pockets of disorder” were emerging.
In a statement, the force said: “More officers have been deployed to the area to assist with the management of this incident.
“Some road closures are also being implemented and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.”
Yorkshire Police added that they will conduct a full investigation into “all criminal offences… including damage to vehicles from fire”.
