NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Police are urging people in Leeds to stop sharing conspiracy theories about a local riot which saw a police car overturned and a bus set on fire last night.

Hundreds of rioters took to the streets of Harehill last night after police attended what was described as a disturbance involving agency workers and some children.

The crowd became increasingly agitated and violent, after which officers moved the children and agency workers elsewhere and urged residents to stay inside.

Footage shared on X and TikTok shows a police car being pushed onto its side as rocks are thrown at its windows by several people, including children.

People were seen crowding around another police car as a young man jumped onto its bonnet while people smashed the windows with childrens scooters.

Footage shows crowds of hundreds of people filling the streets, shouting, and throwing items at police cars.

At least two separate fires were started, including a double decker bus, which was set ablaze before surrounding crowds run away screaming as the flames caused it to explode.

A heavy police presence remains on the streets of Harehills this morning, as officers blame a criminal minority for instigating last nights violence.

In a statement on Friday morning, police confirmed that nobody had been seriously injured during last nights violence and they reviewing footage of the outburst in order to identify the perpetrators.

They also warned against social media speculation and conspiracy theories about the cause of the riots after misinformation was seen circulating online.

A spokesperson said: We would strongly discourage residents from speculating on the cause of this disorder which we believe has been instigated by a criminal minority intent on disrupting community relations.  Officers are aware of incorrect information circulating on social media suggesting persons potentially responsible.

We want to make it very clear that the full weight of the law will be brought against those responsible.

Drone footage from Thursday night shows lines of officers, shoulder to shoulder, blocking the road.

Salma Arif, a Leeds councillor, shared a video on X alongside a police officer asking people to stay safe.

She said: There is an ongoing situation currently in Harehills, were aware of that, the police are here.

We are asking everybody in the area to please stay at home at this moment in time.

Update: message from Cllr Salma Arif & Inspector Nicholls.

Cllrs are aware of an on-going incident in Harehills.

Please avoid the area if at all possible. pic.twitter.com/6jMX56kalS

The officer, Inspector Nicholls, added: If you could just stay where you are, stay in your houses while we mange this incident.

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If you are in the crowd I would ask you to go home please so we can keep everybody safe.

Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, tweeted this morning: Since getting back to Leeds from Parliament late tonight Ive been speaking with Harehills residents affected by todays very serious incidents.

They care passionately about their community. They want the disorder to end. They want those pushing misinformation from afar to stop.

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