Two boys have been arrested after two fire crews were shot at by a BB gun.
Firefighters rushing to put out “multiple fires” in wheelie bins outside Little Hulton Library were shot at with a BB gun by a group of youths on Wednesday night, October 27.
The crews of two fire engines that attended called Greater Manchester Police to the site on Longshaw Drive, Worsley, at around 11.35pm.
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Fortunately no one was injured, and officers later found two members of the group, two boys aged 14 and 16, along with the gun used.
Both boys were arrested on suspicion of arson and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Chief Inspector Michael Parker, of GMP's Salford division, said: "Attacks on members of our emergency services will not be tolerated and anyone that does this will face the full force of the law.
"In addition, I want the public to know that we are doing all we can to keep the streets safe during the Halloween and bonfire period with extra dedicated patrols addressing similar matters of anti-social behaviour across Salford.”
The incident was slammed by the top bosses at GMFRS, who called the attack “completely unacceptable”.
Every year, the fire service works with GMP and other agencies on a campaign aiming to squash anti-social behaviour over the Halloween and Bonfire period.
It primarily focuses on tackling attacks on emergency workers, and the deliberate lighting of fires.
GMFRS Head of Prevention Paul Duggan said: “Our firefighters work exceptionally hard all year round but as we approach one of our busiest times of the year over Halloween and Bonfire Night it is completely unacceptable for crews to come under attack when responding to incidents.
"Thankfully no one was seriously injured but an attack like this could have caused firefighters or fire engines to be out of action and unable to respond to an incident where someone’s life is at risk.
“I’d ask everyone to think twice about their actions. Our blue light workers put their lives on the line every single day to keep you and your families safe and they have their own families to go home to at the end of their shift.
"They already have a challenging job, please don’t add to this by behaving inconsiderately.
“As these arrests show, action will be taken against people who put our firefighters in danger and I want to thank GMP for their swift response to this incident.
"No firefighter, police officer or paramedic should be subject to an attack for doing their job and keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe.”
Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact police, using the online portal on the GMP website or by calling 101 and quoting incident 3722 of 27/10/2021.
Details can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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