Leeds riots: Shocking images reveal angry mob vandalizing police car on the street
A burnt out bus with smoke still rising from it can be seen in an area of Leeds after a night of violent disorder where people took to the streets, started throwing stones and setting vehicles ablaze
A burnt out bus can be seen in a Leeds street with smoke still rising from it after a night of rioting.
Firefighters with a hosepipe were pictured standing next to the smouldering vehicle in the Harehills area of of east Leeds where the rioting broke out on Thursday which was linked to local children being taken into care. A local restaurant owner said that people responded by “throwing stones” and starting fires.
Another image shows a fire crew still putting out a fire in the middle of what would have been a busy road full of traffic but was now cordoned off with a series of police vans and cars while a crowd watched on. Footage on social media shows people setting the vehicle on fire, pouring petrol on it and putting bins along with other objects inside to keep it burning. A police car was also seen overturned with its blue lights flashing, sirens blaring and the car alarm going off.
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.
A road is cordoned off as firefighters tackle a blaze ( Image: Joel Goodman/LNP)
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”. It said: “(All criminal offences), will be fully investigated by detectives from Leeds CID and the force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.”
People can be seen setting fire to a bus ( Image: Joel Goodman/LNP)
It assured the public those involved in the violent uprising would be held accountable for their actions, adding: “We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.” Salma Arif, councillor for Gipton and Harehills, warned residents to stay at home in a video she posted on social media, featuring an East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Inspector.
Ms Arif said: “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.” The inspector added: “If you could all stay where you are, stay in your houses, we will manage this and if you’re out in the crowd, I would just ask you to go home please so we can keep everybody safe.”
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