Leeds protesters take to the streets for a THIRD night in a row as hundreds block roads

A protest was held in the Harehills are of Leeds for the third night in a row by the Roma community after children were removed from a family.

A group of people were out in the city last night chanting and singing in peaceful demonstrations.

The singing was made louder using microphones as some members of the group held up signs reading ‘please give back children’.

It comes after a man was charged with arson and violent disorder after serious disturbances in a Leeds suburb.

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

He was charged with violent disorder and arson reckless as to endanger life. Police said he was remanded to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Officers said the rioting broke out in the east of the city on Thursday evening as officers responded to reports of social workers experiencing hostility while dealing with a child protection issue.

Responding officers were attacked and helped social care staff to safety before the disorder escalated with people damaging vehicles and setting fires, according to Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs. Specialist public order officers were deployed and came under a “barrage of bricks and missiles” from a large group of people.

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The father of the children removed has appealed for authorities to return them since West Yorkshire Police removed them “to a safe place” while attending an incident with social services on Luxor Street.

He told The Daily Mirror: “Please bring my children back. I want them back. Why take my kids? They were taken from us.”

In a statement, Leeds City council said it “has agreed to undertake an urgent review of the case and work with Romanian and Roma-led organisations, the churches, and the honorary consulate of Romania and other family representatives for the best interests of the family and wider Roma community.

“We are asking all communities to remain calm and to ensure that we do not see further disturbances such as those witnessed last night, which brought fear and upset to communities in Harehills.

“Local people are devastated by what happened, and we want to ensure there is no repeat of the distressing scenes we saw. Such actions will have a long-lasting and harmful impact on our community.

“The Romanian and Roma community have played a fantastic role in the community and have contributed much to the diversity and richness of the Harehills.

“We want this work to continue and develop further work that makes Harehills an even better place to work and live.”

The family, who are members of the Roma community, have committed to going on a hunger strike until their children are returned to them.

Stefania Banu, a local community leader, speaking to the The Mirror said: “The mother and father are refusing to eat until they get their children back. We are fully supporting them.

“We believe it was an injustice that can be rectified by the authorities if they revise the case. Which they have promised to do.”