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The Otley Run is a beloved Leeds tradition that is famous for its vibrant energy, its fancy dress costumes and the camaraderie of students and locals who are sprinting from pub to pub. For most people, it’s a rite of passage, a day of laughter and an opportunity to get drunk under the sun on Headingley’s roof. However, on a recent Saturday, this beloved pub crawl took a sinister twist.
A violent attack outside of a pub in Headingley has left several people injured and clouded the Otley Run’s cheerfulness. What did happen that night, and what makes this an iconic event?
A Night That Started with Joy
Groups of friends, dressed in everything from superhero capes to animal onesies, pour out of pubs carrying their glasses of pints, their laughter fills the air. The Otley Run race is on, a 19-pub rally spanning three miles and attracting the students of Leeds’ universities as well as locals who are for a good time.
However, as the sun went down on 26th April 2025, the mood changed. There were news of a man barricaded in Otley Road with a crossbow and a firearm – right in the middle of the Otley Run route. In a shocking attack, two women, 19, and 31, were injured.
One was treated for life-threatening injuries that needed to be operated on immediately whereas the other one was treated and discharged the next day. The suspect, Owen Lawrence, aged 38, later died after inflicting a wound on himself in a suicide, which shocked the community.
The Shock of the Unexpected
When the situation of Otley Run comes to your mind, violence does not build in your mind. It is about ridiculous costumes, joint beverages, and possibly — an obscene karaoke performance. Therefore, how does such a grim thing happen in such a robustly alive place? The incident had not been a form of impromptu attack, but it was planned.
Lawrence an hour before the attack placed a scary manifesto on Facebook under the name “The Otley Run Massacre”. He went after students, pub-goers, and even police, enraged by what he called “misogynistic rage” and right-wing sympathies.
Christi King, a 21-year-old student, who lives in Headingley, said she is now hyper-aware of her surroundings, telling reporters so. “It’s shaken us,” she said, as most did feel similarly. Another, Iwan Grant, referred to it as “an attack on the way of life” in this thriving suburb. Is it possible for a set of people to come back from this?
Why the Otley Run Matters
Otley Run is not only a pub crawl but a cultural fixture. It has existed for decades, being visited by thousands every year between its 19 stops – The Three Horseshoes and The Box, among others. For the students, it’s a social bonding experience, something to celebrate examination’s end or birthday. For locals, it is an opportunity to be a part, or simply watch the parade of costumes with a smile.
Still, this is not the first time that the Otley Run has come under the radar. Neighbours have been complaining about noise, littering and drunken behavior for a long time. Some, such as Lesley Jeffries, go out during Saturdays at all. Following the attack, the noise on making Otley Run an official event has gained momentum.
A Community Grapples with Safety
Alex Sobel, the Leeds Central and Headingley MP, is in support of increased security in the Otley Run route. The mayor, Tracy Brabin even called for tighter crossbow laws, looking at the weapon’s devastating effect. Laura Sugden, a victim of a crossbow attack in 2018 also spoke out, calling for action to limit sales of the weapons. Her voice is powerful – she is all too familiar with the agony of recovery.
However, it is not only about weapons. The assault has thrown the focus on to deeper problems such as the burgeoning of online misogyny. And Lawrence’s manifesto did not intend to single the Otley Run out directly. it could lash out on women, students, and “neurotypicals”. Experts warn that incel culture and far-right words are contributing to violence and it is a wake-up call. How do we deal with hate that is hatching on the Internet before it comes to the streets?
The Otley Run has not stopped because of fear. On the very week of the attack, defiant pub-goers, in costumes and all, reappeared. Students such as Max Hut said the higher level of presence of the police contributed towards a feeling of safety among them. Other people, who came in Dalmatians or Paddington Bear outfits, just kept going, not allowing one man’s deed to define their custom.
Both injured women are getting better but their lives have been altered in the blink of an eye. The community is forced to ask questions: What can we do to preserve the carefree nature of Otley Run whilst ensuring safety? Is it time for us to go to the bottom of such violence, hate, isolation and extremism and prevent it before it bites back?
