Protests Block UK Roads After Police Shoot Alleged ‘Drug Dealer’ Yasser Yaqub

Masked and hooded protesters have shut down roads in the British city of Bradford following the police shooting of alleged “drug dealer” Mohammed Yasser Yaqub.

Around 150 people took to the streets on Tuesday night to oppose the police shooting of Mr. Yaqubwho neighbours described as a “drug dealer”.

Mr. Yaqub, 28, was shot dead through his windshield on Monday night after a “planned operation” conducted by West Yorkshire Police.

leeds road bradford protest pic.twitter.com/kSdD35M7xw

— Umar (@umar2528) January 3, 2017

ITV Reports:

Around 150 youngsters have disrupted traffic in Bradford to ‘protest’ against the police shooting of a man on the M62 motorway.

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Video on social media showed youngsters blocking the road, holding banners and placards in protest against the shooting in Bradford.

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West Yorkshire Police said a spontaneous protest took place in Bradford at around 7.15pm tonight (Tuesday January 3) with protestors using Shipley Airedale Road, Leeds Road, Wakefield Road and surrounding routes.

Officers were deployed to the area to facilitate a peaceful protest and to provide public reassurance.

They added no arrests were made and officers will remain in the area to provide a visible presence and to offer reassurance to members of the public.

The Yorkshire Post reports:

Police say they understand ‘heightened tensions’ around the shooting and have appealed for calm.

The statement in full from West Yorkshire Police: “A spontaneous protest commenced in Bradford around 7.15pm this evening (Tuesday January 3) with protestors [sic] using Shipley Airedale Road, Leeds Road, Wakefield Road and surrounding routes.

“Officers from West Yorkshire Police deployed to the area to facilitate a peaceful protest and to provide public reassurance.

“Police empathise with the heightened tensions and engaged with protestors [sic] to appeal for calm. They are continuing working with members of the community, partners and local officers to maintain community cohesion and police relations.

“Crowds are starting to disperse and traffic is now passing with minimal disruption.

“There was minimal disorder, which quickly de-escalated after dialogue with officers at the scene and there was no necessity to make any arrests.

“Officers will remain in the area to provide a visible presence and to offer reassurance to members of the public.”