Stone-throwing yobs pelt Leicestershire fire crews on 999 call-out
Firefighters were pelted with stones and had their hose turned on them while on an emergency call.
The crews were ambushed by about 15 youths when they attended an arson attack at a barn near Market Harborough.
One crew member was hit on the shoulder with a stone but was not seriously hurt.
The two crews, from Market Harborough fire station, still managed to get the blaze under control despite the attack on Tuesday evening.
When a police officer turned up at Glebe Farm, off Northampton Road, the gang of youths dispersed.
A witness, who did not want to be identified, said: "There were about 15 young people and youths who were throwing sticks and stones.
"One stone hit one fire officer on the shoulder. He was saved from serious injury because of the thickness of his jacket.
"Hoses laid out to take water to the fire were tampered with and aimed at fire crews."
Members of the crews who were attacked have been banned from talking about the incident.
Chief fire officer David Webb said it was the service's policy not to comment on attacks on its crews.
But county Fire Brigades Union branch chairman Carl Doughton said: "This is a very concerning incident. Fortunately such attacks on the emergency services in Leicestershire are very rare.
"I just cannot understand those who would do this to people who are only trying to serve the community.
"We as a union shall be looking into the details of what happened."
Fire authority member, Councillor Michael Charlesworth, condemned the attack. He said: "Firefighters have a hard enough job as it is without being lured into something like this.
"I hope those who did this will think hard and not do anything like this again. They may need the fire service themselves one day."
Retained Firefighters Union official Roger Dunton called on the police to take firm action against the attackers.
Mr Dunton, who used to be a firefighter in Market Harborough, said: "It is absolutely appalling that things like this should happen.
"I have been involved in court cases around the country involving such incidents.
"I hope the police take the firmest action against these people who think it is all right to attack and injure firefighters."
Northamptonshire Police, who are investigating, believe the fire and the attack are connected and are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 03000 111 222 or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
14 Comments
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by martin, le3
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:27PM
“:-)”
by anon, anon
Thursday, September 02 2010, 5:36PM
“for the feeble-minded among you (of which there appear to be several), i will explain it S-L-O-W-L-Y. brown had 3 years as PM in which he could have introduced laws to crack down on the sort of scum who think it's ok to stone firemen whilst they're trying to put out a fire. he didn't. because he didn't want to. because it suits him and his kind for the public to be terrified into submission. cameron cannot yet be blamed for not cracking down on crime as he has only just obtained power and can claim, legitimately, that he has bigger fish to fry. but even once he's implemented his emergency budget and set up his academies (or whatever this bunch are calling them) he won't bother cracking down on criminals as he needs the fear just as much as brown did. and for the benefit of the VERY feeble minded i'll try and explain how crime works. the harsher the punishment the fewer the no.of ppl who turn to crime. but this does not mean u can ever get to a point where NO-ONE will commit crime. there will always be at least ONE scumbag who will rob or mug or kill no matter what u do. the point is that until u set punishments to be so harsh that ONLY those thugs will commit crime u can't claim to have done your utmost, or even seriously attempted, to stop and PREVENT crime. and when u r the PM of a country that makes u, at least partly, responsible for all the crimes that have been committed in your nation that wouldn't have been committed if u had had harsher punishments for criminals. and that's why i blame brown. i've explained it as simply as i could so anyone too thick to understand will just have to agree to disagree as i have a life to be getting on with!”
by malcolm, Market Harborough
Thursday, September 02 2010, 5:07PM
“Anybody who lives in Harboro` knows who did this, here`s a clue they live in caravans and are above the law, got it yet”
by Pete, LFE
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:15PM
“anon, anon.....how can Gordon Brown be resposible for mindless morons. No law in this country could stop idiots behaving the way they do. So, like all the other opinions stated, please keep to the subject in question.”
by martin, le3
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:02PM
“anon anon 12:33 - "i blame gordon brown."
anon anon 14:56 - "i DID make an intelligent comment"
So what was the intelligent comment then? Did it get deleted? :-)”
by Fiona, Loughborough
Thursday, September 02 2010, 3:42PM
“I get extremely frustrated with actions made towards our fabulous emergency services.
A prime example was the ridiculous website set up for the 'Legend' Raoul Moat - some of the comments made were of such venom and hatred towards the police - maybe if that is your point of view you should be able to state that on a register so that should you require the attenton of the emergency services they do not have to attend to comply with your views ! (I know this will never happen in a mainly civilised country).”
by anon, anon
Thursday, September 02 2010, 2:56PM
“anon, Leics, i didn't realise u owned the site and were therefore able to dictate to others on what they can and cannot post on YOUR site! on the other hand, if u don't own this site i would like to point out that i DID make an intelligent comment, but perhaps u just weren't intelligent enough to understand it?”
by MrA, leics
Thursday, September 02 2010, 2:19PM
“These mindless morons need to think......................next time it might be their mother or father..or brother...or sister ...who needs the help of our brilliant public services, and some other yobs are impeding the services.
Absolutely no excuse for this appalling behaviour. It's not fun, it's even funny.
Someone needs to give them a smack upside the head. !!”
by anon, Leics
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:56PM
“anon,anon.
Grow up and GET A LIFE. These pages are for people who have something intelligent to say about the articles published in this newspaper. I find your comment is an insult to the firemen who were attacked by belittling the action of the yobs involved.”
by Tony, Hinckley
Thursday, September 02 2010, 12:54PM
“There should be very harsh, very painful action taken against people who act in this way against the fire service, police and ambulance staff and others serving the public need. It must not be tolerated.”