Leeds riots – latest: Arrests made over Harehills disorder as council urgently reviews ‘family matter’ case
Police car overturned and double-decker bus torched as social workers faced ‘hostility’ while dealing with child protection matter
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Police have so far made five arrests and charged another man over a major disturbance in a Leeds suburb that has led the council to undertake an “urgent review”.
West Yorkshire Police battled the “serious disorder incident” in Harehills as officers faced a barrage of bricks and missiles from a large crowd that gathered in the street on Thursday night.
Footage on social media showed vehicles, including a double-decker bus, on fire while other videos showed an overturned police car on the road with its blue lights flashing.
Iustin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Harehills, was on Saturday charged with arson and violent disorder. The other five people arrested on suspicion of violent disorder remain in police custody.
The force said it had been called to a report of social workers being met with “hostility” while dealing with a child protection matter.
After meeting with representatives of the Roma community on Friday, Leeds City Council agreed to undertake an “urgent review” of the “family matter” case.
Are you at the scene or wish to share how this impacted you? Email alexander.butler@independent.co.uk
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Home secretary calls Leeds disorder ‘audacious criminality’
Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ Leeds riot comments
Nigel Farage has been accused of inflaming tensions after blaming rioting in Leeds on the “politics of the subcontinent”.
The Reform UK leader, who was in the US for the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, posted on social media on Thursday evening as scenes of disorder in the city emerged.
“The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds,” he wrote on X within hours: “Don’t say I didn’t warn you”.
Nigel Farage sparks anger over ‘inflammatory’ Leeds riot comments
Reform UK leader blames violent scenes in city on ‘politics of the subcontinent’
The hero councillor who formed a human shield to stop violence escalating in Leeds riots
A councillor has been hailed as a hero after attempting to calm the violent scenes which erupted on Thursday night in Leeds.
Mothin Ali, Green Party councillor for Gipton and Harehills ward, said he returned home at 3am on Friday morning after trying to stop people from throwing objects and adding to the already raging fires.
He was filmed dramatically kicking away a wheelie bin being dragged towards a fire by two young people - one wearing a balaclava - and with the other hand, stopping another adult from throwing a wooden pallet onto the fire.
Hero councillor formed a human shield to stop violence escalating in Leeds riots
Green councillor Mothin Ali calls for unity in Harehills after night of destruction
Watch: Home secretary calls Leeds disorder ‘audacious criminality’
The home secretary described violent disorder that broke out on the streets of Leeds as “audacious criminality”.
Violence broke out on Thursday evening (18 July) in the Harehills area of Leeds, with shocking videos showing a police car being overturned and a double-decker bus being set alight. Five people have since been arrested.
In an interview with the BBC on Friday (19 July), Yvette Cooper said: “Many people will have seen on social media some of the really shocking scenes of audacious criminality and that’s why it’s really important that those individuals face the full force of the law and that’s one of the issues police have been talking to me about this evening.”
Local resident tells of how ‘frightening’ and ‘worrying’ it was when riots broke out
A local resident has told of how “frightening” and “worrying” it was on Thursday when the riots broke out in a Leeds suburb.
Naseem Ashfaq told The Independent: “I don’t live too far from where this happened [on] Thursday. It was very frightening and scary for me. I am over 60. [I] never experienced anything like this before.
“Good job I don’t have small children. Can you imagine what it would have been for them?
“It was so scary thinking, what’s going to happen next? Will it get worse? And how far will this go? So worrying.”
Watch: Hundreds outnumber officers as riots break out in Harehills
In pictures: Disorder broke out in Harehills on Thursday night
Woman bailed after car ‘deliberately set alight’ with children inside in separate incident
A woman has been bailed “pending further enquiries” after a car was “deliberately set alight” while two children were still inside, police have said in a separate update.
The incident happened at about 10.52pm on Thursday in Tong Way, Leeds, but it is unclear whether it was linked to the disorder in the city that night.
West Yorkshire Police said a woman reported her car had been deliberately set alight while her two children were still in the vehicle.
She and a neighbour took the children to safety and were checked over by ambulance staff with no concerns found, the force said.
A 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson in relation to the incident and has since been bailed pending future inquiries.
Local resident tells of how ‘frightening’ and ‘worrying’ it was when riots broke out
A local resident has told of how “frightening” and “worrying” it was on Thursday when the riots broke out in a Leeds suburb.
Naseem Ashfaq told The Independent: “I don't live too far from where this happened [on] Thursday. It was very frightening and scary for me. I am over 60. [I] never experienced anything like this before.
“Good job I don't have small children. Can you imagine what it would have been for them?
“It was so scary thinking, what's going to happen next? Will it get worse? And how far will this go? So worrying.”
Recap: Watch as hundreds outnumbered officers when riots broke out in Harehills
Full statement issued by Leeds City Council over riot
After meeting with representatives of the Roma community on Friday, Leeds City Council agreed to undertake an “urgent review” of a “family matter” case.
A riot broke out in the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday evening after social workers reported hostility when dealing with a child protection issue.
The children were taken to a safe place while police officers attended for support. But when authorities were met with further hostilities, they were forced to withdraw.
A statement from Leeds City Council released on Friday said: “Today, representatives of the Roma community met with Leeds City Council to express their concerns about a family matter yesterday (18 July 2024).
“The council has agreed to undertake an urgent review of the case and work with Romanian and Roma led organisations, the churches, and the Honorary Consulate of Romania and other family representatives for the best interests of the family and wider Roma community.
“We are asking all communities to remain calm and to ensure that we do not see further disturbances such as those witnessed last night, which brought fear and upset to communities in Harehills. Local people are devastated by what happened, and we want to ensure there is no repeat of the distressing scenes we saw. Such actions will have a long lasting and harmful impact on our community.”
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