JohnA community effort by ‘unsung heroes’ has been hailed as the main reason no-one was seriously hurt during last night’s disturbances in Harehills.
Members of the community who came out to try calm any trouble following the withdrawal of police from the area have been saluted by community members and politicians this morning.
People in the Harehills area were urged to stay at home as officers were called to Luxor Street at about 5pm due to an ongoing disturbance involving agency workers and children.
Crowds gathered and the situation escalated, with objects thrown at police. A police car was overturned, a bus torched and fires lit.
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said today: “This morning I’ve been in Harehills speaking with local residents who are devastated by yesterday’s serious incidents.
“So many good people worked together to try to calm things and reduce disorder in the community they care about so much. They are unsung heroes in our community.”
A group of youths East Side Story spoke to near the Compton Centre today said that once police had withdrawn from the area some in the community tried to reduce and calm the situation.
“People were coming out and trying to stop people setting fire to buses and cars,” one said. “They were physically putting their bodies in the way to stop more bad things happening. They were saying ‘this is our community, this is crazy, don’t do this’.”
Another said: “The community started to come together to calm everything at the end. Without them it could have been worse. I saw one guy try to reason with others and to get them to stop throwing things on fires.”
A video, which has since gone viral, shows Adam Aslan and Cllr Mothin Ali trying to block two people throw bins and pallet wood onto a blaze.
“This is our neighbourhood, don’t burn it, we live here, don’t burn it,” one said, encouraging people to think before they act.
Community activists were later seen to be dampening down fires in the street.
Cllr Salma Arif also spoke to people on the streets, promising to look into the situation and encouraging people to go home.
She said today: “The events of last night do not define Harehills. Countless good people were out calming the disorder, which must not be overlooked.
“Today we have to come together as a community to ensure we do not see a repeat of last night’s distressing scenes.”
One community worker told us: “I’ve just spent the last few hours with some colleagues in Harehills helping Cllr Mothin Ali with a clean up along Harehills Lane. Most people were appreciating the support to help tidy up.
“Interesting discourse around the police and their response, some unhappy, especially those who live by the [burned out’ bus – I spoke to a woman who left home with her family over night as they were scared and the police were nowhere to be seen.
“However, there’s an argument that a heavy police presence could have been more detrimental and stirred up even more violence. A strong sense of community still though!”
Kaneez Khan MBE added on social media: “We all live here together really well, considering the vibrant mix of communities who are residing in one of the most densely populated areas of Europe.
“The reason no-one got hurt was not by accident. It was because we live together peacefully. We respect and celebrate each other’s faiths and customs.
“I will reiterate my call for more investment into supporting newly arrived communities on the topic of safeguarding.”
A shopkeeper sweeping up debris from outside his shop was too upset to speak, but told us: “I am grateful it wasn’t worse. We all are. I pray for peace. Please let’s have peace and talk.”
