Leeds riots – latest: Bus on fire and police car overturned in Harehills disorder

We’re now hearing more on the response to last night’s fires, and why West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service did not initially send crews to the disturbance.

As reported, a double-decker bus was torched and several fires started in roads in the estate.

A fire service spokesperson said: “After evaluating the situation and considering the potential danger to our fire crews, it was determined that it was not safe to put out the fires,” a spokesperson says.

“We want to assure the public that we were ready to respond promptly if lives or homes were in danger.”

Leeds City Council’s chief executive Tom Riordan spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in the wake of last night’s trouble.

On the riots, West Yorkshire Police said it was initially called to a disturbance involving some agency workers and some children.

And Mr Riordan this morning explained it was a “family incident”.

He said: “There was a family incident earlier in the day that police attended and our officials attended that the local community got concerned about and that appeared to be the trigger of concern for the groups of people.

“I can’t go into any detail. It was a family incident and as always in Leeds we have outstanding rated services…it was an incident that was probably misinterpreted I would say.”

As the sun rose over the Leeds estate of Harehills, the damage from last night’s riots emerged.

BBC reporter Tom Ingall spoke from the scene this morning as council trucks arrived to clear away the debris from fires in the street.

He said a number of people he had spoken to said the disturbance was related to a local family having their children taken into custody by the authorities – but added this was unconfirmed.

“Questons and clean up and Harehills in disbelief this morning,” he said.

Video footage circulated last night of a local councillor appearing to stop people from adding objects to a fire during the disturbance in the Harehills estate.

The councillor, named in the video as Councillor Mothin Ali, can be seen taking bins away from the street fire and wrestling with rioters trying to add a wooden pallet.

Councillor Ali is a member of the Leeds Green Party, which issued a statement last night.

The party said: “Cllr Mothin Ali is currently in Harehills attempting to defuse the situation that has arisen this evening. He has been trying to calm rioters down and preventing the situation from worsening. A full statement will be released later.”

West Yorkshire Police has assured the public it will be fully investigating last night’s riot, which saw a police car overturned and a bus set on fire.

It comes as the force is reviewing footage circulating on social media that shows offending.

A spokesperson said: “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.”

Following the break-out of the riot in the Harehills estate in Leeds last night, social media has been flooded with pics and videos from eyewitnesses.

There’s also been questions raised on who is responsible, with fingers pointed at some groups and people.

This morning, West Yorkshire Police, which is treating the matter as a “serious public order incident” said it was aware of wrong information posted on social media.

A spokesperson said: “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.”

So what do we know about Harehills?

The suburb is located in east Leeds and comes under the Gipton and Harehills ward, which has a population of just over 30,000 people living across 11,000 homes.

It was ranked among the most deprived areas in Leeds in 2020.

The Muslim community represents the largest religious group, making up almost 40 per cent of the population.

And last year, the most common crime offences reported were violence and sexual offences, public order and criminal damage and arson.

More than 15 hours since the start of the public disorder, questions are being asked on how it started.

West Yorkshire Police said its officers were called to an incident at an address in the Harehills estate at 5pm on Thursday where they found an “ongoing disturbance” involving agency workers and children.

More people started to attend the location and the agency workers and children were taken to a safe place.

A crowd then started to gather and more officers were requested to attend the area where “pockets of disorder” were emerging.

In a statement, the West Yorkshire Police said: “More officers have been deployed to the area to assist with the management of this incident.”

The force has added that they will conduct a full investigation into “all criminal offences… including damage to vehicles from fire”.

Despite the danger posed by last night’s fires, no-one was thankfully seriously hurt, according to West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.

Fears had been raised for passengers of a bus after images showed it on fire during the public disorder, but that was empty, said First Bus.

This morning, Ms Brabin said she believed no-one was seriously hurt as a result of the riot.

In a post on X, she wrote: “I am relieved that nobody was seriously hurt in this incident – we will provide any support we can to the people of Harehills following the violence perpetrated in their community.”

She also criticised those behind the disorder.

She said: “I am absolutely appalled by the violent and thoughtless actions witnessed in Harehills last night. 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.

“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.”

This morning, First Bus has confirmed that one of the company’s vehicles was set on fire with another caught up in the chaos.

A spokesperson for the company in Leeds said: “Two of our vehicles have been caught up in the public disorder in the Harehills area of Leeds this evening.

“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.”

Pictures show one bus being targeted by people seen kicking the front windscreen.