Leeds Riots: Viral Video Shows Police Car Overturned, Bus Set on Fire

A video circulating on social media shows protesters overturning a police vehicle and setting a double-decker bus on fire following major riots in Leeds, UK.

According to reports, when officers arrived, they encountered an ongoing disturbance involving some agency workers and children. As the situation escalated, officers moved the agency workers and children to a safer location. Despite these efforts, “pockets of disorder” emerged, with social media posts depicting a large crowd on the street, an overturned police car, and a burning bus.

The riots reportedly began after social services removed four children from a family, one of whom had been hospitalized due to an injury inflicted by a sibling. Local media indicated that the hospital reported the incident to social services, leading to the children’s removal and sparking the protests.

Police arrived to find the disturbance in progress. By 9 pm, no uniformed officers were visible at the main disturbance site, although a police helicopter monitored the situation from above. Yorkshire police assured a thorough investigation into all criminal activities, including property damage caused by fires, emphasizing their commitment to holding those responsible accountable.

“We want to emphasize that those responsible will face the full consequences of the law,” stated the police.

Tom Riordan, the chief executive of Leeds City Council, reported that calm was restored by around 1 am, and cleanup efforts had already begun. “There was a family incident earlier in the day that the police and our officials attended, which caused significant concern within the community,” Riordan explained in an interview with the BBC. “This seemed to be the trigger for the unrest.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, thanked emergency services in a social media post and urged those escalating tensions to reconsider their actions. She also mentioned that no serious injuries had been reported.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the violence, stressing that such disorder is unacceptable. Councillor Salma Arif of Gipton and Harehills asked people to stay indoors in a video statement, reassuring that the police were managing the situation.

“There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills; we’re aware of it, so police are here. We are asking everybody in the area to please stay at home at this moment in time,” she said.