Five individuals in police custody following disturbance in Harehills, with more arrests anticipated

Five individuals have been apprehended following incidents of violent disorder in a suburb of Leeds, with authorities cautioning that more arrests will be made as part of an ongoing investigation.

West Yorkshire Police stated that riots erupted in Harehills, located in the eastern part of the city, on Thursday evening as officers were responding to reports of social workers encountering hostility during a child protection matter.

The responding officers were assaulted and assisted social care personnel to safety before the situation escalated with individuals damaging vehicles and setting fires, as per Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs.

Specialized public order officers were then deployed and faced a “barrage of bricks and missiles” from a large group of individuals.

Mr. Twiggs mentioned that a decision was made to temporarily withdraw officers when it became apparent that the police were the primary target, in order to de-escalate tensions.

Providing an update on Friday evening, he stated: “We have made multiple arrests related to the outbreak of disorder in Harehills last night with five individuals taken into custody.

“The Major Enquiry Team officers are diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding the disorder and we have teams out to detain those individuals identified.”

“We are making arrests and will continue to do so in the coming days,” he added.

“For those responsible for the criminal acts in Harehills, our investigation will be relentless, and I urge you to surrender to the authorities while you still have the chance.”

“The same message goes out to the parents of those involved, to cooperate with the police now,” he continued.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that those accountable should face the full consequences of the law for what she described as “audacious criminal behavior.”

Ms. Cooper made these remarks during an interview with the BBC in Leeds where she met with West Yorkshire Police officers and local community representatives.

Speaking about community outrage and social media posts showing children being removed from homes, she stated: “What we witnessed last night were criminal acts with a bus being set ablaze, and with attacks on police vehicles. Additionally, there has been misinformation regarding the police’s response to a complex child protection incident.”

She highlighted that social media displayed “very disturbing instances of brazen criminal activity.”

A bus was set alight and a police car overturned, prompting residents to stay indoors on Thursday night, with a significant police presence and helicopters in the area.

On Friday morning, four officers were guarding the scene near a burnt bus in Foundry Approach.

Some residents gathered to survey the damage, while a group of individuals emotionally linked to the initial incident were seen nearby.

Green Party councilor for Gipton and Harehills, Mothin Ali, described the events as “complete chaos” and urged the community to remain calm and united following the incident.

During a press briefing at the scene on Friday, he said: “The situation was chaotic. We tried to protect the police, acting as human shields because they were there without proper gear, being assaulted with bricks and bottles, so we tried to calm the situation and act as a buffer.”

Mr. Ali praised the local neighborhood policing team for their efforts to avoid escalation but criticized the decision to withdraw officers initially.

“The intention was not to escalate matters, but in hindsight, we can question that decision. At that moment, when a decision is being made, it’s tough,” he added.

“I don’t know who was in charge, but I would like to speak to them.”

He commented that the police were lacking in numbers and support during the disorder, emphasizing the need for arrests to be made.

“There were individuals who were genuinely upset, but there were also troublemakers who wanted to cause havoc,” he mentioned.

“Legitimate anger is understandable, but attacking a bus with innocent individuals aboard is not justified.”

“I hope everyone remains calm and remembers that we are a community. We need to clean up the mess in our streets together, so let’s unite,” he concluded.

An individual who has resided in the area for over 20 years observed people throwing bricks and stones at a police van on Thursday evening.

The person, identified as Paul, expressed concern about the situation escalating and affecting his children.

He noted the shock of witnessing the bus catching fire and the subsequent chaos that unfolded.

Paul predicted that the tension was still present and voiced worries about potential further disturbances.

Another individual, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted experiencing panic and fear as a nearby bus was set ablaze during the unrest.

Her friend echoed similar concerns about the unfolding events.