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A bus was set on fire and a police car was overturned as unrest broke out in a neighbourhood in the UK's Leeds on Thursday in what police described as a "serious disorder incident". Residents in Leeds have been urged to stay at home and a large number of police have been deployed to Harehills.
No injuries have been reported so far. The chaos was linked to children being taken into care by government agents in Luxor Street in the Harehills area, The Guardian reported. Eyewitnesses said some people in the community responded by setting fires and "throwing stones".
As the unrest gained momentum, the agency workers and the children were taken "to a safe place", police told the UK's Sky News.
West Yorkshire Police said further "pockets of disorder" had broken out while responding to the situation and more officers were deployed to "assist with the management of this incident".
Videos on social media showed a large number of people on the street and a police car being attacked with its windows shattered before it was overturned. One person was seen setting fire to the bus while others threw debris at it.
Several roads were shut to the public and people were advised to avoid the area till the situation came under control. Visuals showed streets strewn with rubbish and other debris.
Police had left the spot by 10:30 pm (local time) but a helicopter remained, scanning Harehills and other nearby areas.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was left "appalled" by the "shocking scenes" of unrest and said she was being regularly updated about the situation. She thanked the West Yorkshire Police for their response.
"I am appalled at the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this nature has no place in our society. My thanks go to West Yorkshire police for their response. I am being kept regularly updated," she tweeted.
Councillor Salma Arif, for Gipton and Harehills, posted a video in which she was seen with a police officer and advised people to remain at home.
"Update: Message from Councillor Salma Arif and Inspector Nicholls. Councillors are aware of an ongoing incident in Harehills. Please avoid the area if at all possible," she tweeted.
