Yobs attack firefighters

A gang of at least 40 youths launched an attack on firefighters last night, throwing glass bottles at crews after they turned up to battle a fire in Shrewsbury.

It is the latest attack in a week which has seen youths deliberately starting fires in the Harlescott area and then attacking firefighters when they turned up to battle the blazes.

In one of the incidents a firework was launched at a fire engine, narrowly missing one of the crew.

Last night firefighters were targeted by a large gang of youths after they turned up to attend a fire in Moston Road.

Glass bottles were thrown at the crews, with one hitting one of the youths on a foot. Nobody was seriously injured in the incident.

Fire bosses have now been forced to step up attendance at malicious fires in the Harlescott area of the town, with two appliances attending instead of one.

And they have warned it means fire cover could be stretched in other parts of the town.

Leading firefighter Phil Davies, who had bottles thrown at him last night, said: "Whilst we were there we were subjected to a large group of at least 40 youths. Bottles were thrown at the crews.

"One of the bottles hit a youth on the foot but he was checked over and seemed to be OK. Nobody else was hit. Shortly after that the police turned up and the group dispersed pretty quickly.

"Due to the recent attacks on fire service personnel we have increased our attendance to the Harlescott area."

Mr Davies said there were only two full-time fire appliances in Shrewsbury town centre, meaning that if a serious incident was called in while they were dealing with a malicious fire in Harlescott, it would mean retained firefighters or crews outside the town would have to be called in.

"If there's a serious incident it could stretch the service and increase attendance times," he said.

"Our concern is if we're wasting our time putting out malicious fires then the safety of the residents of Shrewsbury is being put at risk. We would urge these youths to think about their actions."

Fire service chiefs are now in talks with police about going into schools to issue guidance to youngsters in a bid to clamp down on the problem.

By John Kirk