Thugs launch bricks, missiles and fireworks at police as they set fire to building they wrongly claim is going to be a HMO for asylum seekers

Published: 03:43 EDT, 6 November 2026 | Updated: 03:45 EDT, 6 November 2026 A group of thugs launched bricks, missiles and fireworks at police after setting fire to a building they wrongly claimed would be a HMO for asylum seekers.The 'pre-arranged' disorder erupted on the Meadow Well estate in North Tyneside on Thursday evening due to the false rumour, Northumbria Police said.Riot police were deployed to the estate after emergency services were violently attacked by large crowds shooting fireworks at the building on Bonfire Night.In a bid to defuse use the unrest, police units created a barricade around the site which was set to be a supermarket and not a HMO for asylum seekers.In a post shared across its social media channels, Northumbria Police said they were responding to anti-social behaviour and violent disorder.'Emergency services in the area have been subjected to violent attacks including having bricks, missiles, and fireworks thrown at them,' they said.'We believe the disorder has been pre-arranged and relates to misinformation in the community that the completed building is going to be used as a house of multi-occupancy (HMO) – which is not accurate.'The site is planned for use as a supermarket.' Riot police form a barrier around the building on the Meadow Well estate in North Shields Thugs wrongly believed that the building would be used as a HMO to house asylum seekersThey added the thugs' behaviour was 'completely unacceptable' and officers were working 'swiftly' to identify those responsible.'We simply will not tolerate this behaviour – and it doesn’t belong within our neighbourhoods.'In the wake of the violent disorder, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness condemned the 'minority of idiots' responsible.She said: 'These thugs apparently thought they were attacking a planned HMO, when in fact, it was destined to be a supermarket.'This dangerous misinformation and the way it spreads needs to be tackled and the stupidity has to stop - there is no excuse for it.'She added that the emergency services who fell victim to the attack 'work every day to protect us' and 'deserve better'.Meadow Well Metro station was closed for the remainder of the day due to the disorder in the area. Police have urged anyone with any information about the disorder to contact them immediately. This is not the first time unrest has occurred on the Meadow Well estate. Riots also took place in September 1991 after the deaths of two joyriders.Dale Robson, 17, and Colin Atkins, 21, died after crashing a stolen Renault while being followed by police. Hundreds of people went on a looting rampage, setting fire to shops, buildings and cars, devastating the estate.Do YOU have a story? Email Joshua.Haining@dailymail.co.uk