A man has been charged on Saturday with violent disorder and arson after a bus was set alight in a riot in Leeds.
The riot, which saw a police car overturned and other vehicles set on fire, happened on Thursday evening after police removed social workers and children from a Roma family in Harehills, an inner-city area of east Leeds.
Iustin Dobre, aged 37, of Clifton Mount, has been charged with violent disorder and arson reckless as to endanger life.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) said Mr. Dobre has been remanded in custody and will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Earlier in the day, officers arrested a further five people on suspicion of violent disorder, who remained in police custody, the force said on Saturday.
It added that four people who had been initially arrested in connection with the violent disorder had been bailed pending further investigation.
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.
Police decided to remove the children and the social worker as “more people started to attend the location,“ but things continued to escalate, with ”pockets of disorder” occurring as the size of the crowd grew, the force said at the time.
Officials have not specified details of the child protection issue involving the Roma family. Leeds City Council said it has agreed to undertake an urgent review of the case following a meeting on Friday with family representatives and other community leaders.
In a statement released on Friday, the council asked all communities to remain calm to avoid a replay of the riot the night before.
“The Romanian and Roma community have played a fantastic role in the community and have contributed much to the diversity and richness of the Harehills. We want this work to continue, and develop further work that makes Harehills an even better place to work and live. The events of last night will not help our community or the family. We need to work together with the authorities to ensure that best outcomes for the community, and to ensure our voices are heard at the highest level so we can avoid such scenarios in the future,” the council said.
“Please help us by remaining calm, keeping yourselves and your children safe, and by avoiding a repeat of last night’s disturbances. This is in the best interests of the family and the wider community.”
