Shocking footage has revealed the moment armed cops swarmed a city centre – before police were then surrounded by a baying mob and attacked.

Bradford descended into lawlessness yesterday afternoon after a brawl outside the city’s magistrates’ court led to huge crowds clashing with police. 

Youths wearing hoodies and masks were filmed charging after police vehicles and hitting them, as officers attempted to get away from the disorder.

At one point a BMW X5 regularly used by armed police, was chased by several men before one appeared to kick it, prompting the driver to hit the brakes and reverse towards crowds before stopping and driving off. 

In another clip, firearms cops were seen sprinting through the city centre while a large group of officers attempted to hold back crowds at the entrance to the  shopping precinct in Market Street. 

A huge police presence was called to deal with the disorder in Bradford city centre on Tuesday

Footage recorded the moment police cars were chased by some of the crowd before allegedly being kicked 

Youths wearing hoodies and masks were filmed charging after police vehicles and hitting them, as officers attempted to get away from the disorder

West Yorkshire Police later arrested six teenagers following the mayhem, which was branded ‘abhorrent’ and ‘despicable’ by civic chiefs today.

The afternoon of chaos was sparked after a group of men in balaclavas were seen ‘acting suspiciously’ in the city centre. 

Police were scrambled at 4.30pm but said they ‘found all in order’. Then, a short while later, cops were called back amid reports of a knifeman near the city’s magistrates’ court where a brawl had broken out. 

The knife was seized and a 16-year-old boy was arrested, police confirmed. 

But the violence soon spilled out onto the streets as a huge crowd of people gathered, prompting a large scale police response to quell the disorder.  

West Yorkshire Police arrested a further five youngsters – three 16-year-old girls, a 17-year-old boy and 18-year-old man, for offences including assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

The mayhem has outraged civic leaders, who today insisted Bradford was ‘safe’ and the city centre was ‘open for business’.

City ward Councillor Nazam Azam said those responsible for the ‘abhorrent’ incident – widely shared on social media – will feel the full wrath of the law. 

Video footage appeared to catch the moment one person allegedly kicked a police car

Following the alleged kick, the response vehicle is seen reversing back towards the crowd before driving away

In other footage, officers could be seen confronting crowds as they attempted to move them on from the city centre 

‘What happened is absolutely unacceptable. Our emergency workers are their to save lives not to get assaulted. What happened is completely despicable,’ he told MailOnline. 

‘We will not allow this to take place in our city. The perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly and the harshest possible treatment given to them for their actions… They will get the book thrown at them.’

Officers have since stepped up patrols of the city centre following Tuesday brawl.  

West Yorkshire Police told MailOnline: ‘Officers were called at 4.25pm yesterday (26 September) to reports a group of males were acting suspiciously. On arrival officers found all in order.

‘A short while later it was reported that a knife had been seen as males were gathered to the rear of the magistrates’ court.

‘Armed officers were deployed to the location and a male aged 16 years old was arrested on suspicion of possession of a knife in a public place. A knife was seized at the scene.

‘A further five people were arrested, three 16-year-old females and a 17 and 18-year-old males for offences including assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.’

Bradford CID is leading the investigation.

Anyone who was in the city centre yesterday and who witnessed anything suspicious is asked to contact Police via 101 or use the live chat facility at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/contactus quoting log 1145 of September 26.

Information can always be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111