Man held after motorcycle chaos in Leeds LATEST

A MAN was being questioned by police yesterday after an unofficial gathering of motorcycles and quad bikes brought chaos to the streets of Leeds.
The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.
The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.

Hundreds of calls were received by West Yorkshire Police on Monday as a group of up to 50 riders descended on the A65 Kirkstall Road, forcing its closure for around an hour.

The group had earlier been seen speeding en masse through other parts of the city centre and the Hyde Park area.

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No arrests were made during the incident, but a 26-year-old Leeds man has since been arrested and remains in custody.

The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.
The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.

Chief Superintendent Paul Money, Leeds District Commander, condemned the “appalling behaviour” of the group and their “complete disregard for public safety”.

The chaotic scenes prompted 244 calls to police about dangerous riding and other anti-social behaviour in just five hours.

Chief Supt Money said: “I want to reassure the members of the public that we will be doing everything we can and using all available criminal and anti-social behaviour legislation to bring those involved to book.”

Chief Supt Paul Money, Leeds District Commander.Chief Supt Paul Money, Leeds District Commander.
Chief Supt Paul Money, Leeds District Commander.
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The gathering, thought to have been organised through social media sites, fell on Halloween – one of the busiest nights of the year for police.

Officers from Leeds District, the county’s road policing unit and the police helicopter were all involved in the response, with the majority of the group dispersed by about 10pm.

Chief Supt Money said detectives were continuing to comprehensive enquiries to identify those involved.

West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner said he was reassured that police and other partners were doing all they could to bring the people responsible to justice.

The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.
The scene on Kirkstall last night. Picture courtesy of @PeopleofLeeds.
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Leeds Motorcycle Action Group has also condemned the anti-social incident in the city on Monday as “the worst example of behaviour in recent years”, and is working with authorities over a long-term plan.