Large protests erupted in Leeds, England, on Thursday evening, where demonstrators flipped a police car and set a double-decker bus on fire, in scenes described by the British press as "terrifying." According to British media, the protests began when social services attempted to remove children from a family in the Harehills area of Leeds.
The spark igniting the chaos occurred when police removed four children from their home, according to a report from the children's services, while the children screamed and resisted in vain. This scene prompted crowds of protesters to smash the windows of a police car with prams, stones, and bicycles before overturning it. Footage captured the protesters setting fire to a double-decker public transport bus.
A statement from West Yorkshire Police indicated that officers safely evacuated the children and staff from social services before the violence escalated. The statement noted that additional police forces were sent to the area, some roads were closed, and the public was urged to stay away from the area.
Interior Minister Yvette Cooper expressed her shock on X, stating, "I was horrified by the terrifying scenes and the attack on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds last night." She added, "This kind of chaos has no place in our community." The reason for the children's removal from the family was not disclosed, but it was stated that the matter concerns the safety of the children.
