Leeds: Violence broke out in Harehills, Leeds, on Thursday as rioters burned a bus, shattered the windows of a police car, and overturned it. The conflict involved a large crowd clashing with police, with debris, rocks, and rubbish thrown at several police vehicles.
While property around Harehills was damaged, there were no injuries reported. The “serious disorder,” as described by West Yorkshire Police, began at 5 p.m. after officers were called to investigate a disturbance involving children and agency workers on Luxor Street.
Shortly afterward, reports of unrest emerged from various parts of the neighborhood. Videos circulating on social media showed a large crowd causing fires and attempting to flip a police car. Additional officers were deployed to control the situation, and residents were advised to stay indoors.
Police left the area by 10:30 p.m., with only a helicopter remaining to scan the area, but the damage had already been done. West Yorkshire Police issued a notice stating, “We would strongly discourage residents from speculating on the cause of this disorder, which we believe has been instigated by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations.”
Home Secretary and West Yorkshire MP Yvette Cooper expressed her dismay, stating that she was “appalled at the shocking scene.” Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, reassured the public that no one had been physically harmed and urged those involved in the riots to reconsider their actions to avoid inflaming community tensions.
The exact cause of the riots remains unknown. The Guardian reported that a local restaurant owner suggested the chaos was linked to children being taken into care, prompting some community members to respond by setting fires and “throwing stones.”