‘Disorder’: Police deployed after riots break out in Leeds, UK

A police car has been flipped on its side and a double decker bus was set alight following “shocking” scenes in a UK city.

Violent scenes have broken out in Leeds, in England’s north, overnight after a police car was overturned and a double-decker bus was set alight during “shocking” riots.

Police have warned residents in the area “stay in their homes” after a large number of officers were deployed to the scene.

Police tape cordons off the remains of a burnt out bus after civil disturbance last night on July 19, 2024 in Leeds, England. Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Videos posted to social media show a large crowd throwing various objects at police as a bus burns in the background.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was the “disorder” had “no place in our society”.

“I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight,” she said.

Video posted to social media showed a crowd attacking a police car before flipping it on its side. Picture: Snapchat

Reports state the riots started after a child was taken from their home by state services on Thursday evening local time.

Several fires were set throughout the riots. Picture: Snapchat

Police have told residents to avoid the area. Picture: Snapchat

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “At 5pm today (Thursday), police were called to an ongoing incident at an address in Luxor Street, Harehills.

“Officers attended and found an ongoing disturbance which involved some agency workers and some children.

“More people started to attend the location and a decision was made to remove the agency workers and the children to a safe place.”

Police said an investigation into the riots had begun.

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

“More officers have been deployed to the area to assist with the management of this incident. Some road closures are also being implemented and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.

Riots took hold in the Harehills area of Leeds last night, reportedly after children were forcibly removed from their family and taken into care. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

“No injuries have been reported and inquiries are ongoing at the scene.

UK company First Bus confirmed one of their vehicles was set on fire, however, no drivers or passengers were injured.

“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,” a spokesman for the Leeds company said.

Harehills councillor Salma Arif posted a video alongside a police inspector during the riot, urging people to stay indoors.

“There’s an ongoing situation currently in Harehills,” she said.

“We are asking everybody in the area please stay at home at this moment in time.”