Leeds riots live: Arrests made over Harehills disturbance as council urgently looks into ‘family matter’ case

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A man has been charged with arson and violent disorder after serious disturbances in a Leeds suburb.

Iustin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Harehills, was charged after a bus was set on fire during riots in Harehills, Leeds, on Thursday night, West Yorkshire Police said.

He was charged with violent disorder and reckless arson to endanger life.

A woman has been released on bail “pending further enquiries” after a car was “deliberately set on fire” with two children still inside, police said in a separate update.

The incident happened at around 10.52pm on Thursday in Tong Way, Leeds, but it is not clear if it was linked to the disturbance in the city that night.

West Yorkshire Police said a woman reported her car had been deliberately set on fire while her two children were still in the vehicle.

She and a neighbor got the children to safety and were checked by ambulance staff without any concerns, the force said.

A 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident and has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

A resident has told how “scary” and “worrying” it was when riots broke out in a Leeds suburb on Thursday.

Naseem Ashfaq said The Independent: “I don’t live too far from where this happened (on) Thursday. It was very scary and scary for me. I am over 60 years old. (I have never experienced anything like this before.

“Good job, I don’t have small children. Can you imagine what it would have been like for them?

“It was so scary to think, what’s going to happen next? Will it get worse? And how far will this go? So worrying.”

West Yorkshire Police have made five arrests following riots in Leeds on Thursday night – and the force has defended its decision to stand down officers in the face of hostile crowds.

Violence erupted in the Harehills area of ​​Leeds on Thursday night, with shocking videos showing an overturned police car and a double-decker bus on fire.

The force said the riot broke out as officers responded to reports of social workers facing hostility when dealing with a child protection issue.