A mob has overturned a police car in Leeds after smashing its windows with bicycles, bats and a pushchair.
The violence erupted in Harehills at about 5pm on Thursday after police officers were called to attend an incident involving agency workers and children in Luxor Street.
Footage posted on social media shows hundreds of people swarming around the car before hitting it with a pram, rocks and bicycles.
The crowd can be seen setting a large fire in the street before throwing what looks like a fridge into the blaze to the cheers of the crowd.
A TikTok video also showed a bus being set on fire in front of hundreds of spectators.
A riot van has been deployed and around 30 police officers were seen clashing with locals.
West Yorkshire Police said officers had safely extricated the children and agency workers before the violence worsened. Councillors and senior officers have advised people to avoid the area.
No injuries or arrests have been reported and enquiries remain ongoing.
Cllr Salma Arif, the local representative for the area on Leeds city council, has posted a video with a West Yorkshire Police inspector on X urging people to stay home.
The Labour councillor said: “There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills … we are asking everyone in the area to please stay home at this point in time.”
Inspector Nicolls, the East Leeds neighbourhood police inspector, added in the clip: “If you can all just stay where you are, stay in your houses, we will manage this.
“If you are in the crowd I would ask you to go home please, so we can keep everyone safe, thank you.”
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “At 5pm today, police were called to an address in Luxor Street, Harehills.
“Officers attended and found an ongoing disturbance which involved some agency workers and children.
“More people started to attend the location and a decision was made to remove the agency workers and the children to a safe place.”
The spokesman added: “A crowd started to gather and more officers were requested to attend the area, where some pockets of disorder were occurring.
“More officers have been deployed to the area to assist with the management of this incident. Some road closures are also being implemented and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.
“No injuries have been reported and enquiries are ongoing at the scene.”
10:51 PM BST
Videos from the scene
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 More footage of the unfolding serious disorder in Harehills, Leeds. No details yet regarding the number of police officers injured. We will share updates just as soon as we get them. pic.twitter.com/VU5OvYalpW
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