48 year old jailed for arson and violent disorder amid Harehills rioting

Police were pelted with missiles and a bus was set alight during disorder last year

Catalin Barbu
Author: Matt SoanesPublished 3rd Oct 2025

A man has been handed 20 months in prison for his role in the rioting in Harehills last summer.

Police were pelted with missiles and a bus was set alight during a night of disorder between July 18 and 19 2024.

48 year old Catalin Barbu, of Bellbrooke Avenue in Burmantofts, was handed a custodial sentence after being convicted of arson and violent disorder.

At least 85 arrests have been made in connection with the disorder, with 46 charged so far.

Suspects are still being identified, with police using CCTV and facial recognition technology to find those responsible.

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