Leeds street evacuated after man douses himself with liquid and threatens to light it

Police were called to the incident on Oatland Gardens, Little London, Leeds at 7.39pm on August 12.

When officers arrived, a man picked up a hammer and barricaded himself in his home - claiming to have turned the gas on.

Neighbouring addresses were quickly evacuated by police as the gas supply was disconnected.

A cordon was in place on the street during the incident.

It was also reported that a young child at a neighbouring address had been splashed with bleach.

The child was not injured, police confirmed.

A fire was seen inside the address and due to the immediate risk, officers forced entry to the home shortly after 9pm.

The man was detained after deploying Taser, police said.

He is now in custody awaiting a mental health assessment.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "At 7.39pm yesterday (12/8), police were called to an incident in Oatland Gardens, Little London, Leeds, where a man was reported to have poured liquid over himself and was trying to light it.

"It was also reported that a young child at a neighbouring address had been splashed with bleach. The child was not injured.

"When officers arrived at the scene, the man picked up a hammer and barricaded himself in his home and claimed to have turned the gas on.

"Neighbouring addresses were evacuated, the gas supply disconnected and a cordon put in place while efforts continued to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

"A fire was then seen inside the address and, due to the immediate risk to the man’s safety, officers forced entry to the property at about 9.10pm and detained him after deploying Taser.

"The man remains in custody awaiting a mental health assessment."

A message from the Editor: Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds. Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins