West Yorkshire Police were called to assist social workers facing “hostility” during a child protection matter in the Harehills area on Thursday night, leading to significant disorder. The violent events resulted in the torching of a double-decker bus, the overturning of a police car, and numerous arrests.
Key Developments
- Five Arrests Made: West Yorkshire Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the disorder. The police continue to investigate to identify others involved.
- Social Services Incident: The initial disturbance arose when social workers encountered hostility while handling a child protection case. Police officers were attacked as they helped the staff to safety.
- Police Response: Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs explained that officers initially withdrew from the area due to the intensity of the attack, which involved bricks and missiles being thrown at them.
- Condemnation from Leaders: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the events as “shocking and disgraceful,” emphasizing the need for those responsible to face justice.
- Community Impact: Leeds City Council has promised an “urgent review” of the family matter that triggered the riot, appealing for calm within the community.
Eyewitness Accounts
Green Councillor Mothin Ali, who was on the scene, attempted to de-escalate the situation. He was filmed stopping young people from dragging a wheelie bin towards a fire and preventing an adult from throwing a wooden pallet onto the flames.
“This is my community, these are my people, regardless of how they behaved,” Councillor Ali said. “This behaviour is unacceptable but we need people to step in and calm things down when they can. I have a position of authority and I have to use it.”
Police Federation Response
West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Craig Nicholls condemned the violence as “utterly unacceptable,” praising the quick-thinking and bravery of the officers involved. “What should have been a standard duty quickly turned into a night of chaos, highlighting the need for robust support and resources for those tasked with maintaining public safety,” he said.
Community and Government Response
Leeds City Council, in collaboration with representatives of the Roma community, has committed to reviewing the child protection case that precipitated the unrest. The council’s statement emphasized the importance of community calm and the detrimental impact of the disturbances on local residents.
“We are asking all communities to remain calm and to ensure that we do not see further disturbances such as those witnessed last night, which brought fear and upset to communities in Harehills. Local people are devastated by what happened, and we want to ensure there is no repeat of the distressing scenes we saw. Such actions will have a long-lasting and harmful impact on our community,” the statement read.
Moving Forward
Authorities are calling for any individuals with information about those involved in the riots to come forward. There will be an increased police presence in Harehills in the coming days to maintain order and ensure the safety of residents.
