UK Leeds Riots: What Led to the Unrest in Leeds?

The city of Leeds in the northern English county of Yorkshire experienced severe riots, with rioters setting fire to buses and police vehicles. The epicenter of the Leeds riots was the Harehills area, which the West Yorkshire Police described as a “serious public order incident” in an official media release.

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Trigger for the Riots

The riots reportedly began as a protest following the removal of four children from a family by social services. The incident escalated when one of the children was hospitalized for an injury caused by a sibling. The hospital authorities reported the case to social services, resulting in the children being taken away from their family, which led to the public outcry and subsequent protests.

Incident Details

Images circulating on social media depict scenes of chaos, with a police vehicle overturned during the unrest in Harehills. The first complaint was filed around 5 pm, as reported by Sky News. Social media posts showed large gatherings and fires in the streets, although no injuries have been reported so far.

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Political Reactions

Nigel Farage, the leader of the far-right Reform Party and a Member of Parliament from Clacton, utilized the unrest to criticize immigration. His inflammatory tweet received backlash from local Leeds MP Alex Sobel. Sobel responded on the microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, accusing Farage of spreading misinformation and exacerbating the situation without proper knowledge.

Social Media Impact

A man is seen kicking a bus during the unrest in Harehills in images obtained from social media. These images have been widely shared, amplifying the visibility and public discourse around the riots.

News Source:- cnbctv18.com