Anyone who has lived in Leeds for a while, or is a Hyde Park resident, is bound to have heard of gang called 'The Peaky Minors'.
The gang of youths are believed to be children as young as age 12, and have been described as "terrifying". They carry weapons, throw items at residents, and sell drugs in the city.
Dozens of people in Hyde Park, Woodhouse and Burley have reported being approached by the group of youngsters, one of whom is said to be carrying a pocket knife. Others reported they have been swore at by the group while walking down the street and one resident said her boyfriend was walking before being punched by gang members repeatedly.
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The gang of children have also been spotted breaking into homes and properties, and threatening people with knifes in the street. Their actions have made them become one of the most notorious gangs in Yorkshire.
One individual said: "One of them asks for a cig and then tries to rob you. He does carry a small penknife so just be careful."
Residents have been reporting for years about the gang's actions, and say they are still causing terror among the community today.
'Horror film' experience with gang
"I could tell it was them as soon as we saw them", Oscar Bellerby said. The Leeds Beckett University student was confronted by the group in Woodhouse Moor, Hyde Park, in 2020.
He said: "Me and my girlfriend were approached by a group of about eight or nine kids. They must have only been about 12 or 13 years old.
"We had seen loads of things on Facebook about what was going on. I could tell it was them as soon as we saw them.
"I just thought 'This can't be happening', but then they started circling us. Then one of them then made a comment and said 'have you got the knife?' to one of his friends. It was like something out of a horror film."
Instead of reacting, Oscar and girlfriend walked away to try and avoid any confrontation. They escaped unharmed, but have said that it could have been different had he squared up to the group.
Tipping items on Hyde Park sunbathers
Resident's of Brudenell Mount claim the anti-social behaviour in Leeds comes from 'terrifying' local children and not noisy house parties. Leeds Live spoke to a group of students who live on the street.
One woman, who didn't want to be named, said: "There is quite a lot of scary people that aren't students. There are people walking down the road with knives and things, there is a gang of 12-year-old's with machetes. They were tipping things on people who were laid in Hyde Park the other day."
A woman from the group said: "A group of kids asked me if I wanted drugs the other day." Another added: "There was massive group of them fighting outside of Sainsbury's when I came back from work at 1am too.
"I think its a group called the 'Peaky Minors', that's what people are saying, there were loads of people talking about it last year."
The spokeswoman for the group said: "Fireworks night has been the worst night, it was terrifying in Hyde Park but other than that it hasn't been bad really."
Lowrie said: "There is really loud bangs off the fireworks through the streets. Last year they were breaking into people's houses and stuff. Darcy added: "It was 12-year-olds going around with knives and stealing phones which was really scary."
Bonfire night 'apocalyptic warzone'
A gang of unruly yobs branded the ‘Peaky Minors' set off fireworks in a Leeds street on Bonfire night last year and left it looking like a warzone, a student has claimed.
The shocking scenes captured showed the student area in Burley lit up by fiery flashes and explosions.
A student, who did not want to be named, said he came out of his house in the early hours to find a big orange glow and thought he had walked into an apocalypse. The astrophysics student at the University of Leeds said: "It was apocalyptic.
"I came out of my house and there was a big orange glow on the side of the house and the air was smoky. So I went over and just saw the middle of the road ablaze. It was like a world war in 2021.”
Another student claims she was struck by a firework during the chaos which left her with minor burns and a ruptured eardrum.
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