According to reports in the local press, incidents broke out in the evening hours in the Harehills area of Leeds after social services wanted to take a family’s children. Footage shared on social media showed the crowd smashing the windows of a police vehicle with prams, rocks and bicycles before overturning the vehicle. It was also recorded that the prosecutors set fire to a double-decker public transport vehicle.
West Yorkshire Police announced that more police had been deployed to the area. It was reported that officers had safely removed children and staff from the scene before the incident escalated. Some roads were also closed and the public was advised to stay away from the area. No injuries have been reported so far and investigations are ongoing at the scene.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin condemned the incidents in Leeds and called on those trying to stoke social tensions to “think again”. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also took to social media to say: “This type of disorder has no place in our society. I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police for their response. I am being kept regularly informed.”
