A MAJOR riot has erupted in a city suburb as a huge gang of thugs flipped a police car and started fires in a night of carnage.
Hundreds descended on Leeds as rioters set a double decker bus ablaze and cops fled the area, warning locals in Harehills to stay inside.
Plumes of black smoke rose into the sky and hundreds of people watched on as the night of carnage continued.
Shrapnel appeared to line the streets with pockets of smaller fires ablaze as many passersby took out their phones to record the surrounding chaos.
Cops were called to reports of a disturbance at an address in Luxor Street at around 5pm, but then further “pockets of disorder” broke out.
Footage, which has been widely shared on social media, showed large crowds of hundreds of people in the street.
In one clip a police car comes under attack with prams and bikes before being flipped on to its roof.
Another shows a man picking up a scooter and throwing it at a police car while dozens watched on.
Others punch a police car’s windows and throw objects at it with officers inside.
A group of men could also be seen throwing a metal unit into a blazing fire in the middle of the street.
Cops said additional officers had been sent to the area to “assist with the management of this incident”.
No injuries have been reported.
Councillor Salma Arif, for Gipton and Harehills, asked people to stay at home.
He said: “There’s an ongoing situation currently in Harehills.
“We are asking everybody in the area please stay at home at this moment in time.”
Nicholls, from the East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team, added: “If you could just stay where you are, stay in your houses while we mange this incident.
“If you are in the crowd I would ask you to go home please so we can keep everybody safe.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “At 5pm today (Thursday), police were called to an ongoing incident at an address in Luxor Street, Harehills.
“Officers attended and found an ongoing disturbance which involved some agency workers and some children.
“More people started to attend the location and a decision was made to remove the agency workers and the children to a safe place.
“A crowd started to gather and more officers were requested to attend the area, where some pockets of disorder were occurring.
More officers have been deployed to the area to assist with the management of this incident.
“Some road closures are also being implemented and people are advised to avoid the area at this time.
“No injuries have been reported and enquiries are ongoing at the scene.”
