A police's forensics chief has told how one of the West Yorkshire force's vans was "torched" while an officer was examining a crime scene tonight.
Police rushed to Halton Moor's Ullswater Crescent at about 6pm tonight as the burning van sent plumes of smoke into the sky.
Our reporter at the scene described scenes of "carnage" and "utter chaos" as “dozens” of police in riot gear were bombarded with missiles from the other side of a large cordon on the estate.
In a Twitter post forensics chief Peter Arnold - speaking about tonight's vile attack - wrote: "My staff don’t come to work expecting their van to be torched whilst examining a crime scene and keeping the public safe."
However he added that the crime scene investigator affected by the chaotic incident was "fine".
He wrote: (SIC): "My staff don’t come to work expecting their van to be torched whilst examining a crime scene and keeping the public safe.
"Our #CSI is fine and was more concerned about being unable to service more victims for the rest of the shift.
"That’s #commitment and #dedication for for you."
A man who saw tonight's dramatic scenes unfold in Leeds has suggested that a previous police incident sparked the chaotic scenes in which a van was set on fire.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police are attending a disturbance on Ullswater Crescent following damage to a vehicle.
"No-one was injured and officers are scene to contain the situation which remains ongoing."
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