Gangs of youths fought riot police in Leeds last night, the second time a major English city has seen violence in less than a fortnight.
About 300 youths, the majority believed to be Asian, hurled petrol bombs and set cars and a shop ablaze before a tense calm was restored after seven hours of night battles.
The violence flared in the suburb of Harehills at about 8 p.m. last night amid reports police allegedly used excessive force on a local Asian man arrested a week ago for a minor traffic offence, witnesses said.
A police spokesman confirmed a local man had earlier been arrested for a traffic offence but could not say whether the arrest was linked to the rioting.
"The gangs were burning barricades. Cars were being set on fire in the streets," one witness said.
"There must have been about 300 youths. The police formed a line with riot shields and charged the rioters so they could put out the fires."
The rioting came little more than a week after three nights of racial violence just 40 miles away in Oldham brought race issues to the fore in the run-up to tomorrow’s general election.
Police in Leeds said one youth was arrested and a number of officers slightly injured. Several vehicles were destroyed in the violence.