Harehills: Bus burns and police car overturned in chaos

A large number of police officers were deployed to Harehills in Leeds following disturbances in the area on Thursday.

A police car was overturned and a bus was set on fire. West Yorkshire Police described the incident as a “serious incident of public disorder”.

Police said officers were initially called to a disturbance at an address on Luxor Street at around 5pm BST, which subsequently escalated into further “disturbances”.

Social media videos showed large crowds of people on the streets, with some appearing to attack a police car on a scooter before it overturned.

Home Secretary and MP for West Yorkshire Yvette Cooper said she was “appalled by the shocking scenes”.

No injuries were reported.

Until late in the evening, hundreds of people gathered in the streets littered with garbage and other waste.

A bus burned completely near the Compton Centre.

While waiting for the emergency services to arrive, community members tried to put out the bus fire with buckets of water. The fire brigade did not arrive on the scene until after midnight.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said that “a large number of law enforcement officers have been dispatched to the scene as this is an ongoing incident.”

“We would like to reassure citizens that we are responding to the unrest that has occurred and that appropriate public order professionals are on site,” the statement added.

“We would strongly advise residents not to speculate about the cause of these disturbances, which we believe have been instigated by a criminal minority whose intention is to disrupt community relations.”

Video footage shared on social media earlier in the evening shows a police car being attacked and its windows smashed, a person attacking it on a scooter and stones and other debris being thrown.

Riesa, a pharmacist who did not want to give her surname, told the PA news agency she had seen people throwing objects at police officers and cars.

“They attacked police cars and threw things at them – basically anything they could pick up from the ground. Rocks from the garden, garbage, drinks, anything,” she said.

“The officers definitely had drinks thrown at them – water, juice, soda, basically anything they had in their hands – at the cars because (the officers) were trying not to get too close as it was pretty violent.”

“I am appalled by the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds this evening. Disorder of this kind has no place in our society,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Numerous roads were closed and people were advised to avoid the area.

Police had previously stated that officers were called to an “ongoing disturbance involving some temporary workers and some children” when they were called to a disturbance on Luxor Road.

A spokesman said: “More and more people flocked to the site and a decision was made to move the agency staff and the children to a safe location.”

“A crowd began to gather and additional officers were requested to come to the area, where isolated disturbances occurred.

“Additional officers have been dispatched to the area to assist in dealing with this incident.”

It was later announced that a comprehensive investigation would be carried out into “all crimes … including damage to vehicles by fire”.

“All crimes, including damage to vehicles by fire, are fully investigated.”

It further stated that “the full force of the law will be applied against those responsible.”

First Bus confirmed that one of its vehicles was set on fire and another was “involved in the public disturbance”, but that neither the bus driver nor passengers were injured.

“One of our vehicles was set on fire but was empty as the customers had previously been transferred to another bus along with the driver,” said a spokesman for the Leeds-based company.

Gipton and Harehills councillor Salma Arif appeared in a post on X on Thursday evening alongside a police inspector and left a message urging people to stay at home.

Ms Arif said: “There is currently an ongoing situation at Harehills.

“We ask everyone in the area to please stay at home at this time.”

Insp Nicholls, of the East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Just stay where you are, stay in your homes whilst we deal with this incident.”

“If you are in the crowd, I would ask you to go home so we can protect everyone.”

Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, said on X: “I am on my way back to Leeds from Parliament and have been in contact with the police and concerned residents about the recent incidents in Harehills.”

“Police say no injuries have been reported but advise people to avoid the area at this time if possible.”

Tracy Brabin, the mayor of West Yorkshire, said she was “reassured that no one had been seriously injured but would advise those who are taking advantage of this to stoke tensions in the community to think again”.

Additional reporting by Bethany Parsons