Man charged with arson and violent disorder after disturbances in Harehills

A man has been charged with arson and violent disorder following serious disturbances in a Leeds suburb.

Iustin Dobre, 37, of Clifton Mount, Harehills, has been charged after a bus was set on fire during riots in Harehills, Leeds, on Thursday evening, West Yorkshire Police said.

He was charged with violent disorder and arson endangering life.

Police said he has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in Leeds District Court on Monday.

Earlier on Saturday, officers arrested five more people on suspicion of violent disorder. They remain in custody.

Four people initially arrested have been released on bail pending further investigation.

A peaceful vigil was held in Harehills on Friday night. Police said a woman was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence before being released and given a conditional warning.

Officers said the clashes broke out in Harehills, in the city’s east, on Thursday night after officers responded to reports of social workers being treated in a hostile manner while dealing with a child protection case.

Responding officers were attacked and helped social services staff to safety before the disorder escalated and people destroyed vehicles and set fires, Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs said.

Specialized law enforcement officers were deployed and were shot at with “stones and rockets” by a large group of people.

A bus was set on fire and a police car overturned. Residents were warned to stay home. Many police and helicopters were sent to the area.

On Friday, representatives of the Roma community gathered at Leeds City Council to raise their concerns over a family matter.

In a statement, the council said it “has agreed to an urgent investigation into the case and to work with Romanian and Roma-led organisations, the churches, the Honorary Consulate of Romania and other representatives of the family to best serve the interests of the family and the wider Roma community.

“We are asking all communities to remain calm and ensure we do not see further disturbances such as those seen last night, which have caused fear and anxiety in communities across Harehills.

“Local people are devastated by what has happened and we want to ensure that the harrowing scenes we witnessed are not repeated. Such actions will have a long-lasting and damaging impact on our community.

“The Romanian and Roma community has played a fantastic role in the community and has contributed greatly to the diversity and richness of Harehills. We want to see this work continue and the work that will make Harehills an even better place to work and live.

“The events of last night will not help our community or the family. We must work with the authorities to ensure the best outcomes for the community and ensure our voices are heard at the highest level so that we can prevent similar scenarios from happening in the future.

“Please help us by remaining calm, keeping yourselves and your children safe and preventing a repeat of last night’s disruption. This is in the best interests of the family and the wider community.”

Published: 20/07/2024 by Radio NewsHub