Violence erupts in Harehills as hundreds of rioters gather to flip police car and torch bus

The disturbance lasted for several hours and has been declared a ‘serious public order incident’

2 months ago

A riot which broke out last night in Harehills, Leeds, saw multiple fires started in the street, including the torching of a double decker bus.

The disorder occurred following an “ongoing disturbance” involving agency workers and children, with a gang flipping a police car in response, before starting a number of bonfires.

Footage from Foundry Approach at 5pm shows the huge blaze, as furniture and other items were tossed onto the burning vehicle to keep it alight.

via SWNS

West Yorkshire Police were called to Luxor Street on Thursday evening after violence broke out and attended to a “disturbance” between “agency workers and children”. Footage of children being put into police vans circulated online after a seven month old baby at the address had allegedly been taken into hospital with a head injury.

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The altercation had resulted in a gang flipping a police car and starting numerous bonfires in the street, resulting in police vacating the area.

Both the agency workers and children were removed from the area to a safe place.

The disturbance saw hundreds of rioters descend on the suburb and lasted for several hours. The charred remains of the bus remain in the road this morning, Friday 19th July.

Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen bellowing into the sky as flames from the bus reached above the nearby terraced houses.

via SWNS

Hundreds of people gathered to view the fire as black smoke spiralled upwards.

In footage shared online, a man can be seen picking up a child’s scooter and throwing it at a police car. A crowd then moved in to rock the car on its side, sparking further violence. Others were filmed punching in the windows of a police car and throwing objects at it whilst officers sat inside.

Other footage shows men holding lighters to seats inside of a double decker bus as the flames spread and smoke quickly billowed out of doors and smashed windows.

Children can also be seen throwing litter and rocks at the bus, with another man emptying a nearby bin and throwing the rubbish inside.

Footage of a smaller blaze (via SWNS)

Residents in Harehills were urged to stay home as emergency services battled to stop the riot, but more officers were called for as many people began to gather around the blaze.

One eyewitness spoke of the items being thrown, including how many children were involved: “It was surreal. Rocks getting launched, bottles thrown, kids in balaclavas everywhere charging with bins.

“Furniture was thrown on to the bus that’s been set ablaze to keep it burning. It’s just carnage.”

ia SWNS

Another eyewitness, who saw the bus go up in flames, said he had “never seen anything like it”.

He added: “I can feel the heat off the bus that is on fire from 40 yards away.”

Last night, a West Yorkshire police spokesperson said that the “full weight of the law” would be brought against individuals responsible for the disturbance. They added how it was believed the riots were started by “a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations”.

“We wish to reassure residents we are responding to the disorder incidents which have taken place, and that appropriate specialist public order resources are attending.

“All criminal offences, including damage to vehicles from fire, will be fully investigated by detectives from Leeds CID and the force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team. We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.

“Police can also confirm that no one has so far been reported to have been hurt in the disorder and police are treating the matter as a serious public order incident.

“A specialised website will be set up to allow these reports to be made will be set up and further details regarding this on this will follow.”

First Bus confirmed that two of its vehicles had been damaged in the riots. A spokesperson said: “Two of our vehicles have been caught up in the public disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds this evening (Thursday 18th July).

“A team from our depot was quickly at the scene to provide support to our drivers and customers.

“We can confirm that both drivers are unhurt and we have no reports of injuries to passengers. One of our vehicles has been set on fire but was empty as the customers had earlier been transferred to another bus together with the driver.

“All services are being diverted from this area of Harehills for the safety of our staff and customers. We will follow the advice of the police in deciding when normal routes will resume and update customers as soon as we can.”

The riot in Harehills also prompted response from home secretary Yvette Cooper, who wrote on social media last night that the disturbance in the Leeds suburb had “no place in our society.”

She added: “I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight.”

Leeds City Councillor Salma Arif issued a statement on social media with Police Inspector Nicholls, urging people to “stay at home”.

She said: “There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills, we’re aware of that. We are asking everybody in the area: Please stay at home at this moment in time.”

Inspector Nicholls added: “If you can all just stay where you are, we will manage this. And if you’re out in the crowd, I’d just ask you to go home please so we can keep everybody safe.”