Leeds Rioters Overturn Police Car and Set Vehicles on Fire

A burnt car in the Leeds suburb of Harehills, where a riot happened the night before, on July 19, 2024. Katie Dickinson/PA Wire

Rioters in Leeds have overturned a police car and set vehicles on fire as residents were urged to stay inside.

West Yorkshire Police (WYP) said the incident broke out on Thursday evening after officers responded to “an ongoing disturbance which involved some agency workers and some children” and decided to “remove the agency workers and the children to a safe place.”

A local restaurant owner said the chaos was linked to local children being taken into care, adding that some people in the community responded by setting fires and “throwing stones.”

A police cordon remains in place on Friday morning. No injury has been reported, the police said.

According to WYP, officers were called at 5 p.m. on Thursday to attend an ongoing incident at an address in Luxor Street, Harehills, where they found a disturbance involving children and agency workers.

A decision was made to remove them as “more people started to attend the location.”

“A crowd started to gather and more officers were requested to attend the area, where some pockets of disorder were occurring,” the force said.

A video circulated online shows a crowd overturning a police car. Other footage shows a bus and other vehicles on fire. 

At 8:21 p.m., Salma Arif, Labour councillor for Gipton and Harehills, who was filmed trying to diffuse the situation, issued a joint warning with a police inspector in a video posted on social media platform X, asking people in the area to “please stay at home at this moment in time.”

In the early hours of Friday, WYP said officers were responding to incidents as well as reviewing footage online.

“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,” the force said, adding that “the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.”

The force also advised against speculating the cause of the riot after speculations circulated on social media.

“We would strongly discourage residents from speculating on the cause of this disorder which we believe 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,” WYP said.

Reacting to the incident, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said on X she was “absolutely appalled by the violent and thoughtless actions.”

Such criminal behaviour will not be tolerated and I am in touch with West Yorkshire Police for regular updates on the progress of their investigation,” she said.

“I would urge everyone to refrain from speculation on social media and if members of the public believe they have footage of criminal behaviour, I would ask for this to be passed on to the police.”

The mayor said she’s “relieved” no one was seriously hurt, and promised to support residents following the incident.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: “The scenes of criminality and disorder in Leeds last night were disgraceful, including attacks on police vehicles and public transport, and will have been very distressing for local residents. Those responsible must face the full force of the law and West Yorkshire Police have my support in pursuing the perpetrators and taking the strongest possible action against them.”

The home secretary said the police, the mayor and local councillors will be working closely with the community to provide support and reassurance and prevent further disturbances, and called on everyone to support the local agencies where there are incidents of disorder.

PA Media contributed to this report.