Riots erupted in the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday evening.
Photo : Twitter
Riots erupted in the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday evening, resulting in overturned police cars and a large fire blazing in the middle of the road. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors as an angry crowd took over the streets, evoking memories of the violent riots that occurred in Harehills in 2001.
July 18 Riots
West Yorkshire Police reported that the unrest began around 5 p.m. following a disturbance “involving agency workers and children.” As the crowd grew, the decision was made to evacuate these individuals to a safer location.
“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,” police said.
Social media footage captured scenes of people smashing police car windows, throwing objects, and a significant blaze in the road. Several videos showed officers struggling to control the large crowds.
No injuries have been reported so far. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
2001 Riots
The 2001 Harehills riots, triggered by the wrongful arrest of an Asian man, also saw significant violence. The disturbance lasted over six hours on June 5, resulting in the burning of 26 cars and a shop. Both police and civilians were targeted with bottles and bricks. The violence led to severe injuries for two police officers and two journalists, and 25 men were subsequently imprisoned for their roles in the riots.