NIGHT OF CARNAGE
Shock footage shows yobs flip police car and set bus on FIRE in Leeds riot sparked by ‘kids being taken into care’
Watch the moment a huge blaze was lit in the middle of the road in the video above
SHOCKING footage shows yobs flip a police car and set a bus on FIRE in a Leeds riot reportedly sparked by 'kids being taken into care'.
Hundreds of thugs descended on Leeds on Thursday night as rioters set a double-decker bus ablaze and cops fled the area, warning locals in Harehills to stay inside.
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Rioting broke out after cops were called out to a "disturbance" between "agency workers and some children" at 5pm.
It is understood the chaos broke out when three children were forcibly removed from parents and taken into care.
Harrowing footage shows a young boy being escorted out of a house and put into a police van by cops.
A restaurant worker told Sky News that people responded by starting fires and throwing stones.
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By nightfall, plumes of black smoke rose into the sky as hundreds of people crowded in the streets to watch on.
Footage showed thugs setting a bus on fire - with flames completely gutting the vehicle.
A cop car was smashed by thugs wielding children's scooters before a crowd gathered to rock it onto its side.
Crowds then snowballed into the hundreds as cops called in to deal with the escalating scenes were evacuated.
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Later, debris appeared to line the streets with pockets of smaller fires ablaze as many passersby took out their phones to record the surrounding chaos.
Footage widely shared on social media shows a man picking up a scooter and throwing it at a police car while dozens watched on.
Others punch a police car's windows and throw objects at it with terrified officers still sitting inside.
As the carnage continued at a second location, a group of men were filmed throwing a metal unit into a blazing fire as multiple bonfires were started in the middle of the street.
Cops said additional officers had been sent to the area to "assist with the management of this incident".
West Yorkshire Police reportedly drafted in riot cops from forces across Yorkshire and Manchester before restoring order.
No emergency services were allowed to enter a one mile radius of the riots before cops marched in.
CHANTING AND SCREAMING
A WOMAN who watched on as rioters unleashed chaos in Leeds has told how she head "chanting and screaming" from "a thousand people" outside her home.
Riesa, a pharmacy dispenser who did not want to give her last name, said she saw people throwing items at police officers and cars.
The 26-year-old, who lives off Harehills Lane, said: "They were attacking police cars, throwing things at the police cars - anything they could pick up off the floor really.
"Rocks from the garden, rubbish, drinks, anything.
"Drinks were definitely being throwing at the police - water or juice or fizzy drinks, or anything they had in their hands basically, at the cars because [the police] were trying not to get too close because it was quite violent."
She said about an hour later, when she was back home, she heard "chanting and screaming" from outside, adding that it sounded like "a thousand people".
"Looking out the window, you can see that people were attacking cars that were just at the traffic light trying to go past them, but they wouldn't turn around because I think they were getting quite scared because there were so many people," she continued.
"A few minutes after that, looking out my house, I could just see big black smoke coming from the main road.
"My husband said that they were pulling bins from people's businesses or houses and just putting them into the middle of the road full of rubbish and just setting it on fire."
She continued: "There was a bus at the lights, obviously stopped by all these people as well.
"He was trying to get past, obviously he couldn't, so he just reversed and just stopped basically outside my street, and just left the bus there because he felt he was in danger.
"I did see people throwing things at the bus before the driver had got out. Someone threw some glass at the bus."
No injuries have been reported.
Last night West Yorkshire Police said: "We are continuing to attend to a serious disorder incident in the Harehills area this evening.
"A large number of public order officers have been deployed to the location in what remains an ongoing incident.
"We wish to reassure residents we are responding to the disorder incidents which have taken place.
"Appropriate specialist public order resources are attending. Officers are also reviewing footage which has circulated on social media showing offending.
"All criminal offences, including damage to vehicles from fire, will be fully investigated by detectives from Leeds CID and the force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.
"We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.
"Police can also confirm that no-one has so far been reported to have been hurt in the disorder and police are treating the matter as a serious public order incident.
"Residents who have perhaps gathered to observe the incidents are asked to keep away from the disorder while officers manage the incident.
"We would strongly discourage residents from speculating on the cause of this disorder.
"We believe it has been instigated by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations.
"Officers are aware of incorrect information circulating on social media suggesting persons potentially responsible.
"Members of the public who have reported incidents so far are thanked for their reports.
"We want to encourage people to contact us with information and footage of offenders.
"A specialised website will be set up to allow these reports to be made will be set up and further details regarding this on this will follow.
"Finally, we wish to thank members of communities who are working to reassure residents and calm the situation."
The Home Secretary said she was "appalled" by the outbreak of violence.
Yvette Cooper tweeted: "I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles & public transport in Leeds tonight.
"Disorder of this nature has no place in our society. My thanks go to West Yorkshire police for their response.
"I am being kept regularly updated."
Hellhole Leeds suburb where machete gangs rule
A MILE away from Leeds city centre, residents in poverty-stricken Harehills claim the area is blighted by alcohol and substance abuse.
A recent spate of gangland-style stabbings and murders has left people fearing for their safety.
In September a 16-year-old was slashed on Florence Street by two men armed with machetes.
locals say shocking brawls and machete attacks are becoming increasingly commonplace.
An employee who works at a garage along the street where it happened, who didn’t wish to be named, told The Sun: “Harehills life is bulls***. I am from Belgium and I can’t believe what I’m seeing here.
“I need to move away. I came here and I’ve never seen anything like it. I feel unsafe.
“How can there be a murder on the street where you work? A murder? I thought England had high standards.”
Simanga Musipa, 48, who runs a music studio in his home on Ashton Place, told us: “I live my life too much like I lived in Zimbabwe.
“The problem around here is that there is no CCTV - the police and the council don’t do anything about the problems here.
“If you or I were to commit a crime, we would think about putting a balaclava on, but not round here.
“It all happens out in the open because there is nothing to keep an eye on anybody.
“Crimes that should be happening in other places are happening here because they are away from cameras.”
The ward of Harehills and Gipton is one of Leeds’ most populous, with an estimated 30,879 people living in and around the streets, flats and housing schemes.
The high amount of rental means a lot of homes are neglected, and living in such close quarters has led to an inflated crime rate of 241.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. The national average is 75.88.
The area is renowned for its mass riots in June 2001, as well as the killing of a 20-year-old man, Adam Chadwick, shot in 2008 in a case of mistaken identity.
In 2007, a 14-year-old girl, Zuzanna Zommer, was sexually assaulted and murdered in a frenzied attack by her neighbour, convicted rapist Michael Clark.
Violent crime remains the biggest issue, with 3,122 incidents reported in 12 months up to June this year, along with concerning numbers across public order offences (963 incidents), criminal damage (642 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (517 incidents).
In 2021 a 19-year-old was jailed for punching an off-licence owner and threatening him with a machete in a row over a £3.75 drink, before using it to cause £3,000 worth of damage by smashing up the shop doors.
Meanwhile Harehills' drug crime rate equates to more than one offence every day (389 incidents).
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Councillor Salma Arif, for Gipton and Harehills, asked people to stay at home.
He said: "There's an ongoing situation currently in Harehills.
"We are asking everybody in the area please stay at home at this moment in time."
Nicholls, from the East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: "If you could just stay where you are, stay in your houses while we mange this incident.
"If you are in the crowd I would ask you to go home please so we can keep everybody safe."
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A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are aware of a fire in the open in Harehills, Leeds at present.
"As it stands the fire in the street is not impacting on public safety or buildings and as such we are allowing it to burn its self out.
"We will continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with West Yorkshire Police who are leading this incident."
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin urged people using the disorder in the Leeds to "inflame community tensions" to "think again".
Ms Brabin tweeted: "Thank you to our emergency services in what is a very difficult situation.
"I'm being briefed by @WestYorksPolice and we are monitoring events.
"I'm reassured no one has been seriously injured but suggest those who are using this to inflame community tensions to think again."
A spokesperson for First Bus in Leeds said: "Two of our vehicles have been caught up in the public disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds this evening (Thursday 18 November).
"A team from our depot was quickly at the scene to provide support to our drivers and customers.
"We can confirm that both drivers are unhurt and we have no reports of injuries to passengers.
"One of our vehicles has been set on fire but was empty as the customers had earlier been transferred to another bus together with the driver.
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"All services are being diverted from this area of Harehills for the safety of our staff and customers.
"We will follow the advice of the police in deciding when normal routes will resume and update customers as soon as we can."
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