Demonstrations - Leeds - 18 Jul 2024
Published by Campbell M Gold in Blowing in the Wind · Sunday 21 Jul 2024
Tags: Leeds, Riot, Thu, 18, Jul, 2024, Extreme, violence, Harehills, area, Leeds, Shocking, footage, Social, media, Police, car, Double, decker, bus, Fire
Tags: Leeds, Riot, Thu, 18, Jul, 2024, Extreme, violence, Harehills, area, Leeds, Shocking, footage, Social, media, Police, car, Double, decker, bus, Fire
Leeds Riot - 18 Jul 2024
A terrifying riot broke out in Leeds as police officers responded to social workers facing hostility - Thu 18 Jul 2024...
Extreme violence erupted in the Harehills area of Leeds on Thursday evening. Shocking footage posted on social media showed a police car being overturned and attacked by people wielding a scooter, a pram, and a bike. In addition, a double-decker bus was set on fire, and multiple fires were started along the street. Other footage showed a large fridge being thrown onto a fire as crowds cheered and sirens were heard.
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that rioting broke out as officers responded to reports of social workers experiencing hostility when dealing with a "child protection issue".
While the children were relocated to a secure area at around 5 pm, crowds gathered, and the situation rapidly deteriorated, with objects being thrown at police.
As the disorder accelerated, Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs said, "Officers were forced to withdraw as it became evident that the police were their sole target."
Many have criticised the decision to withdraw, including Mr Mothin Ali, the local Green Party councillor for Gipton and Harehills.
“As the disorder escalated, damage was caused to vehicles and several fires set,” Mr Twiggs said. “We continually assessed the situation and decided to deploy specialist public order officers who came under a barrage of bricks and missiles from a large group.” The decision was then taken to temporarily withdraw officers to calm tensions.
Twiggs added: “Throughout the night, several arrests were made in relation to the disorder, and further arrests will be made over the next few days.”
West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that five arrests have been made, and another man has been charged over a significant disturbance in a Leeds suburb. On Friday, after meeting with representatives of the Roma community, Leeds City Council agreed to undertake an “urgent review” of the “family matter” case.
Councillor Ali described the scenes as “absolute mayhem” and called for the community to stay calm and come together after the incident.
Mr Ali also mentioned that the local neighbourhood policing team was “absolutely fantastic” and had tried to prevent the situation from escalating. However, he believed the officers' decision to withdraw during the first incident was wrong. He stated that the police didn't have sufficient numbers or the necessary equipment during the disorder and that arrests should have been made. “They had no shields and no helmets. A few of us tried to form a human shield, standing in front of the bricks and bottles to give the police a way to retreat.”
Regarding the arrests, he said that some people were “legitimately angry” and others "wanted to cause trouble”.
A resident who witnessed the riot said he left his house at 7 pm (Thu) only to see people throwing bricks and stones at a police van. The person, who wants to remain anonymous, said he was concerned there could be further disorder as the “tension is still there”.
“I don’t like my kids being around this. It’s just not right,” he said. “The most shocking thing was when the bus went up – got set on fire. There was a bang, and everybody ran.”
Politicians condemned the violence, with PM Sir Keir Starmer describing it as a “shocking and disgraceful” disorder that has “no place in our society”.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said police have her full backing in “taking the strongest possible action” against rioters. She said in a statement on Fri: “The scenes of criminality and disorder in Leeds last night were disgraceful, including attacks on police vehicles and public transport, and will have been very distressing for residents.”
West Yorkshire Police sought to discourage residents from speculating about the cause of the disorder, which it believes was instigated “by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations”.
Reform’s Nigel Farage wrote on X/Twitter: “The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Alex Sobel, the MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, responded: “This is a situation you know nothing about, and no one has briefed you on. You are inflaming a situation with misinformation. Politicians are responsible for not exacerbating situations, particularly when they have no knowledge of them. I expect you to issue an apology.”
On Sat, Iustin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Harehills, was charged with arson and violent disorder. Five other people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and remain in police custody.
After meeting with representatives of the Roma Community on Friday, Leeds City Council agreed to undertake an “urgent review” of the “family matter” case.
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