Furious residents have reacted with anger after a group of environmental protesters targeted cars in Meanwood overnight and let down the tyres on as many as 85 cars.
The group, which calls itself The Tyre Extinguishers, said it had attacked SUVs using the valves to deflate the tyres and send a message about the environmental impact of the so-called 'gas guzzlers'.
It is not the first time the group has struck, with similar action in Sheffield, Bristol and London in the past.
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A spokesperson for the anonymous activists said on Twitter: "First action in Leeds, West Yorkshire by the new Leeds Tyre Extinguishers group! 85 SUVs disarmed in the Meanwood area and other areas of the city.
"The Leeds Tyre Extinguishers have today (3rd August) taken emergency action to let down the tyres of 85 SUVS in Meanwood and elsewhere in Leeds.
"We are people terrified by the complete unwillingness of governments, corporations & individuals to combat the climate crisis. We act for our family, friends, children at school now & all the people we'll never meet who are already suffering and dying from this inaction.
"SUVs - even electric ones - are simply not compatible with a liveable future. We must all ask ourselves what we can do in this time, together, to create the change needed to avoid the worst impacts.
"(Note: we have only deflated tyres using the valves, so there is no irreversible damage and we have taken care to avoid blue badge holders' and traders' cars)."
But locals who claim their cars were targeted were incensed by the actions of the group.
One person told them: "The cars you did last night were not all SUV’s & not people you class as rich. Most average family cars, 2 small hybrids, 1 electric vehicle, 1 car with supporting living badge and nurse who missed her shift. You’re absolute scum, like to see you do it in daylight"
Another added: "Just so you know this was my mum's car, who is a community nurse, and had patients that needed to be seen urgently this morning, only she couldn’t get there for some unbeknownst reason".
And a third said: "They’ve put a tyre down for a person I know who needed to take their toddler to hospital in the early hours. You could have killed them if they didn’t act fast ignoring your letter and calling a neighbour for help. What a set of p****."
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the BBC: "Police are carrying out enquiries today following reports of tyres on a number of vehicles being let down overnight in the Meanwood area of Leeds.
"No physical damage was caused to the tyres of the 4x4 type vehicles which were targeted."
An International Energy Agency study said that SUVs - sports utility vehicles - are the second-biggest contributor to the increase in carbon emissions.
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