Riot in Leeds as police car overturned, bus set on fire and fires in Harehills

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Leeds residents have been urged to stay at home as emergency services battle to quell a riot which saw a police car overturned and a double-decker bus set on fire.

Officers were called to the Harehills area of ​​Leeds on Luxor Street at 5pm on Thursday to a “disturbance in progress” involving workers and children.

Police moved agency workers and children to safety, but more people attended the scene as the incident quickly escalated and more officers were called.

Shocking video posted on social media showed a police car overturned – before being attacked by people wielding a scooter, a pram and a bicycle – and a double-decker bus set on fire, while several fires were started along the street.

Riesa, a pharmacy distributor who did not want to give his last name, witnessed “quite violent” scenes, telling the PA news agency that he saw people throwing items at police and cars.

The 26-year-old, who lives off Harehills Lane, said: “They were attacking police cars, throwing things at police cars – anything they could pick up off the floor. Garden rocks, trash, drinks, anything.

“There were definitely drinks being thrown at the police — water or juice or fizzy drinks or whatever they had in their hands basically at the cars because (the police) were trying not to get too close because it was quite violent.”

A piece of footage showed a large fridge being thrown on fire as crowds cheered and sirens played in the background.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed on Thursday evening that a large police presence remained in the area due to “pockets of disorder”.

Salma Arif, councilor for Gipton and Harehills, told residents to stay at home in a video she posted on social media with a police inspector from the East Leeds borough.

Mrs Arif said: “There is an ongoing situation in Harehills, we are aware of that so the police are here.

“We are asking everyone in the area to stay home at this time.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told X: “I am appalled by the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this nature does not occur in our society. Thanks to West Yorkshire Police for their response. I am kept up to date on a regular basis.”

No injuries were reported and the roads are closed.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “At 5pm today (Thursday) police were called to an incident in progress at an address in Luxor Street, Harehills.

“Officers attended and found a disturbance in progress involving some agency workers and some children.

“More people started going to the location and a decision was made to move the agency workers and children to a safe place.

“A crowd started to gather and more officers were requested to go to the area where some disorderly conduct was taking place.

“Several officers have been deployed to the area to help deal with this incident. Some road closures are also in place and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.

“No injuries have been reported and investigations are ongoing at the scene.”