NEW DELHI: A police car was flipped and a bus was set on fire after unrest erupted in Leeds, London on Thursday evening. The disturbance, linked to children being taken into care, took place in the Harehills area and prompted officials to advise residents to remain indoors. The incident began around 5 pm when police responded to a disturbance involving agency workers and children.As the situation escalated, more people gathered, leading to property damage and heightened tensions.
Footage showed individuals throwing objects at a police vehicle before it was overturned on Luxor Street, just east of the city center. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the violence and stated that disorder of this nature has no place in their society. Bystanders report that people in the community reacted to the situation by setting fires and throwing stones.
According to the police, when they arrived at the scene, an ongoing disturbance was already in progress. Agency workers and children were immediately moved to a safer location. Despite the severity of the situation, no uniformed police were seen at the scene of the main disturbance after 9 pm However, a police helicopter monitored the events from above.
Yorkshire police assured that a full investigation into all criminal activities, including property damage from fires, would be conducted. They pledged to hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.
“We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible,” the police said.
The mayor of West Yorkshire reassured the public that no one had been seriously injured and urged individuals not to use the incident to inflame community tensions.
Earlier in the evening, a bus was set on fire on Foundry Approach, sending flames and thick black smoke into the sky. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames by throwing water gathered from their homes onto the burning bus. As the crowd continued to grow, West Yorkshire police confirmed the deployment of more officers to manage the situation and announced road closures, advising people to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for First Bus in Leeds confirmed that two of their vehicles were involved in the disorder but that there were no injuries to drivers or passengers.
Another fire was kept alight at a road junction on Harehills Lane, with people continuously throwing debris onto it. Witnesses saw police retreating earlier in the day to de-escalate tensions.
Councillor Salma Arif for Gipton and Harehills released a video urging residents to stay at home and confirmed that police were aware of the ongoing situation.
“There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills, we’re aware of that so police is here. We are asking everybody in the area to please stay at home at this moment in time.”
Local residents offered shelter and drinks to those on the street, expressing shock at the events.
Some residents also expressed frustration over the lack of a visible police presence, though it appeared to have helped de-escalate the situation.
Footage showed individuals throwing objects at a police vehicle before it was overturned on Luxor Street, just east of the city center. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the violence and stated that disorder of this nature has no place in their society. Bystanders report that people in the community reacted to the situation by setting fires and throwing stones.
According to the police, when they arrived at the scene, an ongoing disturbance was already in progress. Agency workers and children were immediately moved to a safer location. Despite the severity of the situation, no uniformed police were seen at the scene of the main disturbance after 9 pm However, a police helicopter monitored the events from above.
Yorkshire police assured that a full investigation into all criminal activities, including property damage from fires, would be conducted. They pledged to hold those responsible fully accountable under the law.
“We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible,” the police said.
The mayor of West Yorkshire reassured the public that no one had been seriously injured and urged individuals not to use the incident to inflame community tensions.
Earlier in the evening, a bus was set on fire on Foundry Approach, sending flames and thick black smoke into the sky. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames by throwing water gathered from their homes onto the burning bus. As the crowd continued to grow, West Yorkshire police confirmed the deployment of more officers to manage the situation and announced road closures, advising people to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for First Bus in Leeds confirmed that two of their vehicles were involved in the disorder but that there were no injuries to drivers or passengers.
Another fire was kept alight at a road junction on Harehills Lane, with people continuously throwing debris onto it. Witnesses saw police retreating earlier in the day to de-escalate tensions.
Councillor Salma Arif for Gipton and Harehills released a video urging residents to stay at home and confirmed that police were aware of the ongoing situation.
“There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills, we’re aware of that so police is here. We are asking everybody in the area to please stay at home at this moment in time.”
Local residents offered shelter and drinks to those on the street, expressing shock at the events.
Some residents also expressed frustration over the lack of a visible police presence, though it appeared to have helped de-escalate the situation.