Leeds 'riot': Police van on fire as bricks thrown at officers in 'utter chaos'
A police van has been set on fire while youngsters pelt bricks at officers amid reports of a riot in a Leeds street.
People in the Halton Moor area have reported scenes of 'utter chaos' in what appears to be a large-scale disturbance with 'violent clashes showing no sign of stopping'.
Police have told people in the area to stand back because there is "riot with people throwing bricks" at the other side of the cordon, Leeds Live reports.
Dozens of police in riot gear have been seen at the edge of a large cordon around the street with reports of around 100 youngsters throwing bricks at officers.
A dramatic photograph shows a police van engulfed in flames with plumes of thick grey smoke rising from it. It was later towed away from the residential street.
Reports claim youngsters were chasing three other police vans, launching bricks at them in the incident this evening.A Leeds Live reporter at the scene said police formed a line at the far side of the cordon - where they were being 'pelted with bricks'.
He said: "They then all suddenly retreated and jumped into their vans - which sped away from the scene.
"The final three police vans were chased by youngsters who continued to launch bricks at the vans."n eyewitness claimed there was a similar incident a fortnight ago.
"I heard a big explosion so I came out," said the man, who did not wish to be named.
"When I came to the end of the street I just saw a Crime Scene van just in a blaze. There were about 200 people out here nosying about."
"Two weeks ago it was the same," said the local resident. "A police car getting smashed up.
"I think that was over something different. An argument with a copper...They smashed the cop car window through."
The witness added: "I haven't got a clue whether it'll die down or carry on. Probably carry on.The streets around the scene are absolutely packed with people who have come out of their houses to find out what is going on.
Local residents claim the police van was set on fire at around 6pm.A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police are attending a disturbance on Ullswater Crescent following damage to a vehicle.
"No-one was injured and officers are scene to contain the situation which remains ongoing."
It is currently not clear what has caused the disturbance.
