Residents in the Harehills area of ​​Leeds have been warned to stay indoors due to ongoing unrest.

West Yorkshire Police said there was a “large” number of officers in the area but no injuries were reported so far.

A Harehills restaurant owner said the disturbances were linked to children being placed in the care of local people, adding that some residents were responding by setting fires and “throwing stones”.

Live social media feeds showed vehicles on fire, including what appears to be a bus, while other footage showed an overturned police car on the road with blue lights flashing, sirens blaring, car alarms going off and crowds of people in the street – some of them screaming.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote in a post on X: “I am horrified by the shocking scenes and attacks on police vehicles and public transport in Leeds tonight. Disorder of this kind has no place in our society.”

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin also took to social media to thank the emergency services, adding: “I am sure no-one was seriously injured but I would suggest to those who are using this situation to stoke tensions in the community that they think again.”

According to police, officers were called to the scene at an address on Luxor Street at 5pm on Thursday where they found a “disturbing incident in progress” involving agency staff and children.

More people began arriving at the scene, and agency staff and children were taken to a safe location.

A crowd began to gather and more officers were asked to attend the scene, where “pockets of unrest” began to appear.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “More officers have been sent to the scene to help manage this incident.

“Some roads are also being closed and residents are advised to avoid the area for now.”

Helicopters have been seen in the area.

Salma Arif, councillor for Gipton and Harehills, warned residents to stay at home in a video posted on social media, which shows an inspector from East Leeds Police.

Ms Arif said: “There is a situation going on in Harehills at the moment, we are aware of it, that is why the police came.

“We ask everyone in the area to stay at home at this time.”

The inspector added: “If you could stay where you are, stay in your homes, we can deal with that, and if you find yourself in crowds, I would just ask you to go home so we can keep everyone safe.”