Violence Erupts In UK's Leeds As Rioters Torch Bus, Overturn Police Car

Unrest broke out in Leeds on Thursday evening as rioters set a double-decker bus ablaze and overturned a police car.

Social media footage showed the crowd attacking the police vehicle, using a pram, rocks, and bicycles to smash its windows before flipping it onto its side.

The violence also saw hundreds of residents clashing with law enforcement, hurling rocks and bricks at police vehicles.

In the viral videos circulating on the social media platform ‘X’, one video allegedly shows a man setting fire to a bus, while another captures young children participating in the riot.

In another video, people are seen running towards a fire in the middle of the road with a large fridge, which they threw onto the blaze to the cheers of onlookers.

Meanwhile, the West Yorkshire Police on Friday said no injuries have been reported so far. “A large number of public order officers have been deployed to the location in what remains an ongoing incident,” the police stated.

What triggered the unrest?

According to The Telegraph report, the disturbances began after social services removed four children from a family. The unrest started around 5 pm on Thursday when police responded to a disturbance call on Luxor Street. Authorities reported that officers and agency workers had safely removed the children before the violence escalated throughout the evening.

Speaking with the publication, a local who claimed to know the family said the riot initially began as a protest against the removal of the children.

As per the local, the unrest was sparked by an incident involving a baby, who was accidentally injured by a sibling some time ago. The parents had taken the baby to the hospital for a check-up, but were shocked when the hospital reported the case to social services. Subsequently, social workers removed the four children from the family without providing a clear reason.

“They could not believe it when the hospital called social services. After all this time, the social workers then took the four children into care. They did not give the family a reason. They just said it was for the best,” the local stated.

‘Serious Public Order Incident’: Police

In an official media release, West Yorkshire Police said they are treating the disorder in the city’s Harehills area as a “serious public order incident.”

“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. Officers are aware of incorrect information circulating on social media suggesting persons potentially responsible,” the police stated.

Expressing her concern about the incident in a post on ‘X’ Friday, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote, “I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles & 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 added.

Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, in a post on X, wrote: “I am on my way back to Leeds from Parliament and am in touch with the police and concerned residents about the on-going incident in Harehills.”

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin shared, “I’m reassured no one has been seriously injured but suggest those who are using this to inflame community tensions to think again.”