Riots break out in UK's Leeds, bus set on fire, police car overturned
Riots broke out in Leeds's Harehills area with a bus being set on fire and several people throwing debris at it. The windows of a police car were smashed before the vehicle was flipped over. People were advised to avoid the area.
In Short
- Police respond to disturbance involving agency workers and children
- No injuries reported during riots, more officers have been deployed
- Social media videos show bus being set on fire, police car flipped over
Unrest erupted in a neighbourhood in UK's Leeds city on Thursday (local time) as a bus was set on fire and a police car came under attack, with its windows smashed and the vehicle being overturned.
West Yorkshire Police said officers responded to an "ongoing disturbance", which involved agency workers and "some children" at 5 pm (local time) in Luxor Street in the Harehills area. A crowd began to gather and a decision was taken to remove both the agency workers and the children "to a safe place" but the situation soon escalated into unrest, police told UK's Sky News
Videos on social media showed a large number of people on the street and a police car being attacked with its windows shattered before it was overturned. One person was seen setting fire to the bus while others threw debris at it.
Several roads were shut to the public and people were advised to avoid the area till the situation came under control.
Police had left the spot by 10:30 pm (local time) but a helicopter remained, scanning Harehills and other nearby areas.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was left "appalled" by the "shocking scenes" of unrest and said she was being regularly updated about the situation. She thanked the West Yorkshire Police for their response.
"I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this nature has no place in our society. My thanks go to West Yorkshire police for their response. I am being kept regularly updated," she tweeted.
Councillor Salma Arif, for Gipton and Harehills, posted a video in which she was seen with a police officer and advised people to remain at home.
Update: message from Cllr Salma Arif & Inspector Nicholls.
Cllrs are aware of an on-going incident in Harehills.
Please avoid the area if at all possible. pic.twitter.com/6jMX56kalS — Salma Arif (@CllrSalmaArif) July 18, 2024
"Update: Message from Councillor Salma Arif and Inspector Nicholls. Councillors are aware of an ongoing incident in Harehills. Please avoid the area if at all possible," she tweeted.
Unrest broke out in the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday evening, leading to a police car being flipped over and a bus being set on fire. Residents have been urged to stay at home as police deal with a "serious disorder incident".
By Kieren Williams and Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporters
Friday 19 July 2024
West Yorkshire Police said it was dealing with a serious disorder incident by deploying appropriate specialist public order resources after a double-decker was set on fire and a police vehicle was overturned.
"We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible."
No one has been reported injured so far, police said, adding they believe the disorder was "instigated by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations".
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had been left "appalled" by the scenes of unrest, amid what officers described as "pockets of disorder", with councillor Salma Arif asking people to stay at home.
Livestream footage on social media appeared to show large crowds of people on the streets with vehicles on fire, including a bus.
At 5pm in Luxor Street, officers responded to a "disturbance" which involved agency workers and "some children".
MORE ON LEEDS
Leeds: How did one apparent incident spiral into such a level of disorder?
The police said crowds began to gather and a decision was taken to remove both the agency workers and the children "to a safe place".
However, the situation escalated into the later seen riot.
The owner of a restaurant in Harehills said the disorder was linked to local children being taken into care, adding that some people responded by setting fires and "throwing stones".
Images showed one fire being lit in the middle of a street as crowds of hundreds of people gathered.
Barriers have been set up along the street where the disorder seems centred.
Videos on social media show what appeared to be a police drone in the air.
Other footage on social media shows a number of people trying to set fire to a bus.
Later on, towards 10pm, riot police could be seen arriving as the crowd began to disperse in places
Speaking at about midnight from the scene of the unrest, Sky News' north of England correspondent Shingi Mararike said the lack of police officers was "noticeable".
"There's not an obvious police presence in and amongst the midst of it," he said.
"They have quite clearly taken that approach in which they are not directly going into the mass of people here."
Police had earlier on been seen leaving the scene, but it is understood they were gathering reinforcements.
Mararike described the astonishing scene of a local resident apparently trying to extinguish the flames of the bus with a fire extinguisher.
"That quite clearly hasn't really worked as you can still see the flames."
In his latest update, Mararike said there was now a "very visible police presence", while crowds looked like they were starting to disperse.
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin thanked the emergency services in a social media post, adding: "I'm reassured no one has been seriously injured but suggest those who are using this to inflame community tensions to think again."
Local MP Richard Burgon said: "I am on my way back to Leeds from parliament and am in touch with the police and concerned residents about the ongoing incident in Harehills.
"The police say no injuries have been reported but are advising people to avoid the area at the moment if possible."
A spokesperson for First Bus in Leeds said: "Two of our vehicles have been caught up in the public disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds this evening.
"A team from our depot was quickly at the scene to provide support to our drivers and customers.
"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.
"All services are being diverted from this area of Harehills for the safety of our staff and customers. We will follow the advice of the police in deciding when normal routes will resume and update customers as soon as we can."
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