Terrified residents took to the streets of Leeds to defend their homes after ‘violent’ thugs drove riot police out and set the city ablaze in a night of chaos.

Night of Chaos

Harehills, east Leeds, was engulfed in chaos early yesterday evening following an outbreak of ‘serious disorder’ that saw bonfires lit across the city, a police car overturned, and a double-decker bus torched, reducing it to a charred and twisted wreck. Rioting broke out after police were reportedly called to a ‘disturbance’ between ‘agency workers and some children,’ amid claims workers were trying to take the youngsters into care.

Desperate Pleas and Late Response

Community members were forced to plead with the rabble as police, despite having first responded to the disturbance around 5pm last night, remained relatively absent from the mayhem until 1am today. Green Party councillor Mothin Ali, who after being elected to Leeds Council in May declared his victory a ‘win for the people of Gaza,’ begged the rioters to stop, saying ‘there’s children in there,’ as fires raged in the streets.

Scenes of Destruction

Police and local officials urged residents to stay home as rioters flooded the streets around Harehills and roads were closed off. However, hooligans continued to swarm the area, with many gleefully livestreaming footage of the havoc on social media.

The Home Secretary has condemned the ‘shocking scenes and attacks’ in the northern city, and West Yorkshire Police, accused of intentionally avoiding the riot, vowed that the ‘full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.

Riots Sparked by Disturbance

Officers were called to an incident at an address in Luxor Street at 5pm on Thursday, where they found an ‘ongoing disturbance’ involving agency workers and children, West Yorkshire Police said. Locals allege 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.’

Community Response

A large crowd began to gather at the location, prompting the agency workers and children to be taken to a safe place, and more officers were requested to attend the area where ‘pockets of disorder’ were emerging. Compared to the rest of the UK, Harehills has high levels of unemployment. It was the same area that was infamously hit by the 2001 Harehills Riot, which broke out after the wrongful arrest of an Asian man.

Scenes of Violence

Livestream footage on social media showed angry rioters setting fire to vehicles, including a public bus. Other footage showed how the thugs overturned and smashed up a police car with scooters, prams, and bikes. The vehicle was left in the road with its blue lights flashing, sirens blaring, and car alarms going off as crowds of people shouted in the streets.

Appeals from Community Leaders

Cllr Ali, 42, was among the Harehills residents who took to the streets to plead with the lawless rioters and warn community members to protect their houses – as police were nowhere to be seen. ‘There’s children in there,’ he yelled at the crowd, adding: ‘This is our neighborhood!’ Another resident, standing next to the councillor while flames burned around them, shouted: ‘There’s families in there. Think before you act. Those cameras are recording each and every one of us!

Eyewitness Accounts

Riesa, a pharmacy dispenser who did not want to give her surname, witnessed ‘quite violent’ scenes last night, including people throwing items at police officers and cars. ‘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.

Damage and Aftermath

Locals were also seen running towards a fire started in the middle of the road with a large fridge, which they hurled onto the blaze whilst onlookers cheered. Images later showed a double-decker bus had been reduced to a charred and twisted wreck.

Official Response

Police have confirmed that no one has been reported injured in the disorder so far, and they 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. The Home Secretary has promised that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible, as detectives from Leeds CID and the force’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team continue their investigation.