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Leeds riots live: Arrests made over Harehills unrest as city council urgently reviews ‘family matter’ case

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Home Secretary condemns violent riots in Leeds

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Louise Thomas

Police have so far arrested five people in connection with a major disturbance in a Leeds suburb. The city council has launched an “urgent investigation”.

West Yorkshire Police were battling an “incident of serious disorder” in Harehills when officers were subjected to a barrage of bricks and projectiles from a large crowd gathered in the street on Thursday evening.

Footage on social media showed burning vehicles, including a double-decker bus, while other videos showed an overturned police car with blue lights flashing on the road.

In conversation with the BBC The following day, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed in Leeds that those responsible for this “brazen crime” would “face the full force of the law”.

In an update on the ongoing investigation, Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs said police were called to a report that social workers were being treated “hostilely” while dealing with a child protection matter. He said officers were attacked as they helped staff to safety.

Following a meeting with representatives of the Roma community on Friday, Leeds City Council agreed to an “urgent review” of the “family matter” case.

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Watch: Councillor who tried to stop rioters in Leeds speaks out after violence

City councillor who tried to stop rioters in Leeds speaks out after violence

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 23:00

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Police make arrests and defend decision to withdraw officers during Harehills unrest

West Yorkshire Police arrested five people following riots in Leeds on Thursday night – and defended their decision to withdraw officers in the face of hostile crowds.

On Thursday evening, violence broke out in the Harehills district of Leeds. Shocking videos show a police car being overturned and a double-decker bus being set on fire.

Police said the unrest broke out when officers responded to reports that social workers had encountered hostility while dealing with a child protection issue.

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 22:00

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Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ comments on Leeds riots

Nigel Farage was accused of stoking tensions after blaming the Leeds riots on “subcontinent politics”.

The chairman of Reform UK, who was in the US to attend the Republican Party convention in Minnesota, posted on social media on Thursday evening as unrest broke out in the city.

“The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds,” he wrote on X within a few hours: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 21:00

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The heroic councillor who acted as a human shield to prevent the escalation of violence during the Leeds riots

A city councillor has been hailed as a hero after trying to calm the violent scenes that broke out in Leeds on Thursday night.

Mothin Ali, Green Party councillor for the Gipton and Harehills district, said he returned home at 3am on Friday morning after trying to stop people throwing objects and fuelling the already raging fires.

He was filmed dramatically kicking away a rubbish bin being dragged towards a fire by two young people, one of whom was wearing a balaclava, and using his other hand to stop another adult from throwing a wooden pallet into the fire.

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 20:00

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Watch: Home Secretary describes Leeds riots as ‘brazen criminality’

The Home Secretary described the violent riots that broke out on the streets of Leeds as “brazen criminality”.

On Thursday evening (July 18), violence broke out in the Leeds district of Harehills. Shocking videos show a police car being overturned and a double-decker bus being set on fire. Five people have since been arrested.

In an interview with the BBC on Friday (19 July), Yvette Cooper said: “Many people have seen some of the really shocking scenes of brazen criminality on social media and so it is really important that these individuals face the full force of the law and that is one of the issues that the police have spoken to me about this evening.”

Home Secretary condemns violent riots in Leeds

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 19:52

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A local resident reports how “scary” and “disturbing” it was when the riots broke out

A local resident described how “scary” and “disturbing” it was on Thursday when riots broke out in a suburb of Leeds.

Naseem Ashfaq said The Independent: “I live not far from where this happened on Thursday. It was very scary and frightening for me. I am over 60. I have never experienced anything like this before.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have small children. Can you imagine what it would have been like for them?

“It was so scary to think about what’s going to happen next. Is it going to get worse? And how far is this going to go? So disturbing.”

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 18:31

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Watch: Hundreds outnumber police as riots break out in Harehills

Leeds: Hundreds outnumber police as riots break out in Harehills

Alexander ButlerJuly 20, 2024 16:59

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In pictures: There were riots in Harehills on Thursday evening

A burnt-out car in the Leeds suburb of Harehills
A burnt-out car in the Leeds suburb of Harehills (PA cable)
A police cordon was set up around the charred remains of the bus.
A police cordon was set up around the charred remains of the bus. (Getty Images)
Home Secretary describes riots in Leeds as ‘brazen criminality’
Home Secretary describes riots in Leeds as ‘brazen criminality’ (BBC)

Tara CobhamJuly 20, 2024 16:10

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Woman rescued after car with children inside was ‘deliberately set on fire’

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

The incident occurred in Tong Way, Leeds, at around 10.52pm on Thursday, but it is unclear whether it is linked to the unrest in the city that night.

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

She and a neighbor brought the children to safety and were examined by paramedics. There were no concerns, police said.

In connection with the incident, a 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson and released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation.

Tara CobhamJuly 20, 2024 14:04

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A local resident reports how “scary” and “disturbing” it was when the riots broke out

A local resident described how “scary” and “disturbing” it was on Thursday when riots broke out in a suburb of Leeds.

Naseem Ashfaq said The Independent: “I live not far from where this happened on Thursday. It was very scary and frightening for me. I am over 60. I have never experienced anything like this before.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have small children. Can you imagine what it would have been like for them?

“It was so scary to think about what’s going to happen next. Is it going to get worse? And how far is this going to go? So disturbing.”

Tara CobhamJuly 20, 2024 13:09

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