Police and fact-checkers have dismissed online claims of a riot breaking out in Leeds as false, warning the public to verify information before sharing.
Rumours began circulating on social media on Friday evening, with posts falsely suggesting large-scale unrest had erupted in the city. One widely shared post from X (formerly Twitter), posted by user Margaret Walker, linked to a misleading conversation implying current riots across the UK.
However, fact-checking sources, including Grok and local %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% outlets, confirmed there have been no reports of riots in Leeds—or elsewhere in the UK—in April 2025. Authorities have reiterated that the last significant unrest occurred between late July and early August 2024, following the tragic mass stabbing incident in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%%.
During that period last year, several towns and cities, including Southport, London, Manchester, %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%%, and Belfast, experienced serious disorder driven by misinformation and far-right sentiment. Those riots resulted in over 1,280 arrests and led the UK government to activate special measures to manage the fallout.
Since the conclusion of those events, no large-scale riots have been recorded. %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%% Police confirmed that no incidents resembling a riot had been reported in Leeds this week.
A spokesperson said:
“We are aware of misinformation circulating online suggesting riots are currently taking place in Leeds. We can confirm that these reports are entirely false.
We ask the public to be cautious about sharing unverified information, as it can cause unnecessary alarm and divert %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% resources.
Recent protests in London involving Indian and Pakistani communities were cited by some users as potential “evidence” of wider unrest, but police clarified that those were peaceful demonstrations, with no link to rioting or %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%% in Leeds or any other city.
Authorities are reminding residents to rely on trusted news sources for updates and to report suspicious or inciteful posts to platform moderators.
Anyone who has concerns about public safety is encouraged to contact local police on 101 or follow verified updates from West %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%% Police's official channels.
