UK: Riots break out in Leeds, bus set on fire, police car overturned

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.

West Yorkshire Police said further “pockets of disorder” had broken out while responding to the situation and more officers were deployed to “assist with the management of this incident”. No injuries were reported during the riots.

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 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.