UK: Riots break out in Leeds, bus set on fire, police car overturned

A bus was set on fire and a police car overturned as unrest broke out in a neighborhood in Leeds, UK, on ​​Thursday in what police described as a “serious incident of disorder”. Residents of Leeds were urged to stay at home and a large number of police were deployed in Harehills.

No injuries have been reported so far. The chaos was linked to childcare by government agents on Luxor Street in the Harehills area, The Guardian reported. Eyewitnesses said some people in the community responded by burning and “throwing stones”.

As the unrest escalated, agency workers and children were taken “to a safe location,” police told Britain’s Sky News.

West Yorkshire Police said other “pockets of disorder” had broken out while responding to the situation and more officers had been deployed to “assist in dealing with this incident”.

Videos on social media showed large numbers of people on the street and a police car being attacked with its windows smashed before being overturned. One person was seen setting fire to the bus while others threw debris at it.

Several roads were closed to the public and people were advised to avoid the area until the situation was under control. Images showed streets littered with trash and other debris.

Police had left the scene by 10.30pm (local time) but a helicopter remained, scanning Harehills and other nearby areas.

Britain’s Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said she was left “horrified” by the “shocking scenes” of the unrest and said she was being regularly briefed on the situation. She thanked West Yorkshire Police for their response.

“I am appalled by the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and 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 informed with regularity.” she wrote on Twitter.

Councilor Salma Arif, for Gipton and Harehills, posted a video of herself with a police officer and advised people to stay at home.

“Update: Message from Councilor Salma Arif and Inspector Nicholls. Councilors are aware of an ongoing incident in Harehills. Please avoid the area if possible,” she tweeted.