Chaos in Leeds: Vehicles Set Ablaze and Streets in Turmoil Over 'Custody of Romanian Children'
Social services took five children from their parents after a 7-month-old baby was hospitalized with a head injury.
Riots erupted in Leeds’ Harehills area following this incident. Vehicles were overturned and set on fire, and crowds gathered, escalating tensions.
A local restaurant owner linked the disorder to the children being taken into care, saying some people responded by setting fires and throwing stones. Images showed fires in the streets and hundreds of people gathered.
The chaos started around 5 PM when police were called to Luxor Street, Harehills, due to a disturbance involving agency workers and children. As more people gathered, the disorder spread throughout the area. West Yorkshire Police urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the area, stating that more officers were deployed and some roads were closed.
Footage showed a bus engulfed in flames and a police car overturned. A witness described “hundreds of people” on the streets, worsening the situation. First Bus confirmed two of their vehicles were caught in the disorder, with one bus set on fire after passengers were safely transferred.
Senior local figures called for calm. Qari Asim MBE, a senior imam, described the scenes as “shocking and deeply disturbing.” West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin praised emergency services and urged calm. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also described the scenes as “shocking” and “appalling.”
West Yorkshire Police confirmed no injuries and said investigations are ongoing. They believe the disorder was caused by a “criminal minority.” Police are reviewing footage from social media and assured that all criminal offenses, including vehicle damage, will be fully investigated. Residents are urged to avoid the area and report any information or footage to the police.
