Emergency workers attacked with fireworks and bricks on Bonfire Night
Firefighters and police were attacked on Tuesday night as Bonfire Night disturbances took place across the UK.
Footage from Harehills in Leeds showed fireworks being launched at riot officers while in nearby Dewsbury, police vehicles had their windows smashed after bricks and concrete were thrown at them.
This is what happened to us tonight, fireworks thrown at the building we were in, the van and officers, concrete and bricks thrown through the van windows & blue lights damaged, flares lit to smoke out the street. We’re just trying to do our job! Disgusted. Van out of action! 😡 pic.twitter.com/iF0YQSfAO3
— Pc Rachel Storey@WYP (@WYP_RachStorey) November 6, 2019
West Yorkshire Police were responding to reports of anti-social behaviour in Harehills at around 8.20pm when they were attacked by groups of youths, who also set fire to rubbish bins and lit flares.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said three different groups of young people launched fireworks at their crews as they responded to emergency calls.
It said that on one of the calls, its crews were set upon by a group of around 40 youngsters in Hyde.
😫Yet another attack on our firefighters 👩🚒👨🚒
🚒Crews were called to a bonfire on Great Norbury Street in Hyde. When they arrived, around 40 young people began throwing fireworks at the crew.
Firefighters work hard to keep people safe and attacks like these are NOT acceptable! pic.twitter.com/QbtreEFtTe
— Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (@manchesterfire) November 5, 2019
GMFRS posted on Twitter: “Firefighters work hard to keep people safe and attacks like these are NOT acceptable!”
In Scotland, fire crews reported being attacked six times as they responded to around 359 bonfires between 3.30pm and 11.30pm, but added no firefighters were seriously injured.
Assistant chief officer John Dickie, of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Any number of attacks on emergency service responders is completely unacceptable.
“This type of behaviour not only prevents our crews from bringing any emergency to a safe and swift conclusion but it can impact on our emergency service colleagues including the police when they have to escort us at the scene.”
West Yorkshire Police chief superintendent Damien Miller said: “We made it clear from the outset that any instances of disorder or antisocial behaviour would not be tolerated and we were able to quickly respond.
“Those individuals that engage in such behaviour are within the minority and do not represent the wider community.”