A massive clean-up operation is underway in Leeds following a night of civil unrest in the Harehills suburb, which reportedly began after local children werre taken from their home and put into care.
Amid the chaos, a police car was overturned by a group of rioters, and the burnt out wreckage of a double decker bus was left on the street after it was set on fire in the northern England city’s streets.
Pictures have now emerged of the clean-up operation, showing officers inspecting the rubble of the burnt bus, which has been cordoned off by police tape.
Elsehwere in Harehills, police are patrolling on horseback to ensure there is no more civil unrest, and local officials have ensures this will continue throught the weekend to best protect the neighbourhood.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin confirmed there will be “reassurance patrols” tonight and over the weekend to prevent the riots escalating, as well as talks with “key partners” to draw up a plan to keep the community safe.
Brabin also issued an urgent plea for Harehills parents to keep their children inside to ensure their safety following a night of violence.
She said during a press conference: “I want to publicly commend those people who throughout the night were on the streets ensuring that the outcome wasn’t worse than the outcome we saw. They went above and beyond.
“I also want to strongly urge calm and say to parents, please, please make sure that your youngsters are home with you and not on the streets.”
The rioters also set other fires in the street and left the road covered in bricks and broken glass, leaving community leaders and other members of the public to clean up and put out the fires with buckets of water.
Several arrests have been made following the disorder, which was believed to have been caused after police were called to a domestic incident at 5pm on Thursday, July 18.
Once they arrived at the house on Luxor Street, they discovered an “ongoing disturbance” involving “agency workers” and children.
According to witnesses, the children and social workers were removed from the house by police officers, which caused the following unrest.
West Yorkshire Police said it was caused by “a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations”.
