Category Archives: United Kingdom

The children whose removal prompted the start of the riots are back with their family. The whole story is a bit more complex than at first sight: The children were placed with relatives several months ago, following an unexplained skull fracture of the youngest baby in the family. They cannot be with their parents until the toddler’s case has been judged and resolved, hence their placement with relatives.

• Roma children at centre of Leeds unrest returned to extended family. In: The Guardian. 23.07.2024. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/23/roma-children-at-centre-of-leeds-unrest-returned-to-extended-family?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-5

The parents of the children whose removal by social services triggered the riots have announced a hunger strike.

• Romanians chant ‘please bring the kids back’ as Leeds council launches ‘urgent review’. In: Telegraph. 20.07.2024. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/20/leeds-riots-council-launch-review-child-care-case-protests/

Two more articles on the root cause of the riots in Leeds: The removal of children from a Roma family while the parents were not there.

• Council to review child protection case that triggered Leeds unrest. In: The Guardian. 20.07.2024. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/20/council-launches-urgent-review-of-child-protection-case-that-triggered-leeds-unrest
• Leeds council in ‘urgent review’ of ‘family matter’ that appeared to spark riots. In: The Mirror. 20.07.2024. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/leeds-council-urgent-review-family-33286620

Well, some papers are saying that maybe one should review why social services were trying to remove all children from a family while the parents were away …

• Leeds council conducting ‘urgent review’ of ‘family matter’ that appeared to spark riots as home secretary condemns ‘audacious criminality’. In: Sky News. 19.07.2024. https://news.sky.com/story/leeds-council-conducting-urgent-review-of-family-matter-that-appeared-to-spark-riots-as-home-secretary-condemns-audacious-criminality-13181153
• Leeds riots – latest: Arrests made over Harehills disorder as council urgently reviews ‘family matter’ case. In: The Independent. 19.07.2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/leeds-riots-2024-cause-harehills-violence-latest-news-b2582980.html

A good article about the events in Leeds.

• ‘We’re in it together’: how unrest in Leeds escalated – and was defused. In: The Guardian. 19.07.2024. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/19/how-unrest-in-leeds-escalated-and-was-defused-harehills

There has been a large riot in Leeds, UK, with police cars overturned, a bus set afire, and reports of looting and other property damages.

Why did they occur: Apparently, a family with 5 children had a toddler admitted in hospital with head injuries. Social Services decided immediately to take over all 5 children while the parents were away working. This resulted in a clash, with police intervention, and the whole situation escalated rapidly.

There is so far no official statement on this, and the protagonists are reported to be of Romanian origins. Romanians on social media of course said these were Roma, which is probable.

Really bad.

• ‘Very visible police presence’ on streets of Leeds after mass riot erupts with vehicles overturned and set on fire. In: Sky News. 19.07.2024. https://news.sky.com/story/very-visible-police-presence-on-streets-of-leeds-after-mass-riot-erupts-with-vehicles-overturned-and-set-on-fire-13180593
• Home secretary to use ‘full force of law’ after Leeds trouble. In: BBC News. 19.07.2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cgrl8kew20zt
• CITY IN CHAOS: Hundreds rush to Leeds riot after police car OVERTURNED & battered with children’s scooters before huge blaze breaks out. In: The Sun. 19.07.2024. https://www.thesun.co.uk/video/news/29328421/police-car-overturned-after-riot-breaks-out-in-leeds-suburb-with-dozens-watching-as-scooter-used-to-smash-vehicle/
• Leeds: How did one apparent incident spiral into such a level of disorder? In: Sky News. 19.07.2024. https://news.sky.com/story/leeds-how-did-one-apparent-incident-spiral-into-such-a-level-of-disorder-13180764
• Romanian community allegedly at the center of street riot in the UK. In: Romania Insider. 19.07.2024. https://www.romania-insider.com/romanians-street-riot-uk-2024
• Violence Erupts in Leeds After Police Attempt to Safeguard Children in Domestic Incident. In: Emergency Services News. 19.07.2024. https://emergency-services.news/violence-erupts-in-leeds-after-police-attempt-to-safeguard-children-in-domestic-incident/#google_vignette
• Riot in Leeds as police car overturned, bus torched and fires in Harehills. In: The Independent. 19.07.2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/riot-leeds-harehills-police-car-overturned-fire-b2582327.html