LONDON: Violence that erupted in Leeds on Wednesday has made headlines in the United Kingdom, eliciting condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

On the night of July 18, what began as a routine intervention by social workers in Harehills quickly escalated into chaos.

Social workers attended to a child protection issue on Luxor Street, but were met with hostility.

As the situation intensified, West Yorkshire Police were called to assist, but their presence seemed to infuriate the crowd further. This intervention turned into a flashpoint, igniting a night of violent disorder.

Sky News reported that the rioting saw a double-decker bus set ablaze, a police car overturned, and rocks hurled at officers.

Social workers, police intervene in child protection issue, triggering riots; several arrests reported

Residents were advised to stay indoors as the situation spiralled out of control.

The West Yorkshire Police confirmed several arrests and said there would be more in the following days. The force also said there would be a significant policing presence over the weekend to prevent further violence.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the rioting as “shocking and disgraceful,” expressing full support for the police’s efforts to restore order.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs clarified the sequence of events, noting that officers were initially called to support social workers. When the officers arrived, they faced a barrage of attacks, prompting the temporary withdrawal of police to allow community mediation. Despite these efforts, the violence persisted, leading to extensive property damage and multiple fires.

By the next morning, the aftermath was evident: the charred remains of a double-decker bus and melted traffic bollards stood as stark reminders of the previous night’s chaos. The incident highlighted deeper community tensions and a complex interplay of factors that contributed to the unrest.

A tweet by Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, added fuel to the fire. Farage tweeted, “The politics of the subcontinent are currently playing out on the streets of Leeds. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Farage’s tweet suggested a link between the riots and South Asian communities.

However, his comment was met with criticism as community leaders and local authorities emphasised that the violence was not racially motivated, but rather a result of opportunistic vandalism.

His colleague and Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, too, made a racist post, “Disgraceful Scenes. Import a third world culture then you get third world behaviour. These animals need locking up for good. They are a product of our spineless namby-pamby establishment who have betrayed our great country.”

ITV News reported that local residents suggested the initial intervention by social services was related to a “family incident,” potentially involving the removal of children from a property. This event appears to have triggered a wider response from the community, leading to the violent clashes witnessed.

Many on social media condemned the racial framing and response to violence in Leeds. “What happened in Leeds isn’t ‘race riots’… it resulted from a historic distrust in the authorities, sparked by scenes that would horrify any community. This isn’t to justify, but to suggest anything else is just disingenuous racism,” posted one user Amy Nickell-Turner.

An account titled London Anti-Fascist Assembly also said, “There is currently a major ongoing misinformation/racist propaganda campaign being pushed by UK-based far right twitter accounts claiming that a riot in Harehill in Leeds is being orchestrated by Muslims. This is false, and blatant racism.”

Many also praised Green Party Councillor Mothin Ali for being on the scene and trying to end tensions. “The only Muslim out there in riots yesterday in Leeds was this hero Green Party Councillor Mothin Ali. He was trying to put the fires out, don’t listen to the lies of Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson,” said one account.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2024