Leeds arson investigation following fires in dry grass

A 12-year-old boy is under investigation for arson after being seen starting four fires in dry grass at Primrose Valley Park in Leeds. A witness reported seeing the boy and his friends igniting fires that spread rapidly due to extreme drought conditions and recent heatwaves across the United Kingdom.

West Yorkshire Police have located the boy and his family, and inquiries into the crime are ongoing. The incident comes amidst a period of significant environmental stress in the UK, following the driest July on record for England and Wales and multiple heatwaves that have left landscapes scorched and highly flammable.