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Wild video shows masked men with 4-foot MACHETES brawling in street as residents watch in horror

Police say the fight may be linked to rival criminal groups involved in the street-level supply of Class A drugs

WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND: A video has surfaced showing a large group of men battling each other with machetes in an ongoing clash between rivals in the Harehills area of ​​Leeds on August, 23. A group of men was seen wielding 4-foot blades in the street as local residents looked on in horror. In the incident, which took place just after 8 pm on Edgware Avenue in the city, armed police rushed to the scene after reports of a loud bang and masked men with machetes. Police have stepped up their patrols in the Harehills area, although the perpetrators had already fled when the police arrived.
 
The West Yorkshire police recovered a machete and a samurai sword and a bag of Class A drugs at the crime scene. Video of the incident shows groups of men running up the street, those involved yelling at each other. A man in black tracksuit sprints up the street and swings what appears to be a machete at a man in a gray tracksuit. The man in the gray clothes then falls over as the machete-wielding man appears to be standing over him. They are joined by other members of the group, one individual seen grappling with another over a machete. In the background, a man can be heard shouting the word “police” while another tells them to “calm down.” 

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The police said, “A witness reported hearing a loud bang. Armed officers were deployed to the scene and confirmed the noise was a window at an address being broken with a brick. The men had run away towards Bayswater Road and Harehills Road. Officials searched the area for them, but no suspects were found and no one was injured. The incident is being investigated by Leeds Borough CID detectives and officers from the local neighborhood police team are stepping up their patrols in the area to reassure residents.”

Superintendent Russ Hughes of Leeds District said, "While we have had no reports of any injuries resulting from this incident, it is clear there were a number of males fighting in the street with machetes. We are still carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances and background to this incident but there are already indications that it may be linked to rival criminal groups involved in the street-level supply of Class A drugs. On behalf of the local community, we cannot tolerate violence of this nature which puts people at risk and causes understandable concern to the law-abiding majority. Making proactive use of increased stop and search powers under Section 60 gives officers an increased ability to target those involved in carrying weapons so we can prevent any further offences. We are determined to keep doing everything we can to disrupt, deter and bring to justice those who involve themselves in this type of criminal behaviour, and I hope people will be supportive of the approach we are taking. Scrutiny and accountability are absolutely vital in ensuring the trust and confidence of our communities, and we are working closely with local representatives to keep them fully updated.”