Toddler burnt after ‘idiots’ hurl fireworks on Clarence Place
Warning: police have vowed to ‘catch’ those responsible. Photograph: Ray Forster
A two-year-old was burnt after a group of “idiots” chucked fireworks around on Clarence Place in Hackney on Saturday evening.
The suspects “ran away seconds later” and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, warning those responsible: “We will catch you.”
We are responding to another fireworks call. This time a 2 year old has been burnt from a firework that’s been thrown 😡
— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) October 29, 2016
@MPSHackney the child is fine thankfully, they have a small burn on their foot. It’s pretty idiotic to throw fireworks
— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) October 29, 2016
Police later confirmed that the toddler was “fine” and had “a small burn on their foot”.
According to police, it was the eleventh firework-related call received during Saturday’s shift.
10 firework related calls so far this shift. Please call 101 if you see people playing with fireworks
— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) October 29, 2016
Last week, a video shared by neighbourhood watch group Shomrim appeared to show a group of youths throwing bangers at passing cyclists outside a block of flats in the Springfield area.
Firing fireworks at people is dangerous, and can cause serious injury. Why do some youths think it’s acceptable? This happens far too often pic.twitter.com/0kYYZvolz7
— Shomrim N.E. London (@Shomrim) October 25, 2016
Commenting on the footage, London Ambulance Service’s Stephen Hines said: “This sort of behaviour is never acceptable. Fireworks are incredibly dangerous and could maim or kill.”
The 20-second clip, which was taken at around 10pm on 22 October, provoked an angry response on social media, with a number of people calling for the private sale of fireworks to be outlawed.
@Shomrim @ShulemStern Call me boring, but I think fireworks should not be available for sale to private individuals, let alone children.
— Str8razors (@str8razors) October 25, 2016
@standardnews bout time private sales of fireworks were banned! They cause death and destruction and many injuries every year! Bloody stupid
— Margaret Edwards (@maggie4dogs1) October 26, 2016
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade warned: “Aiming fireworks at people or vehicles is the height of stupidity and potentially lethal. Always use them responsibly.”
A Met Police spokesman confirmed that officers were called to the incident in Springfield: “Members of public witnessed a group throwing fireworks at each other. Police attended but the group had left. There have been no arrests.”
Police have urged anyone with information about either of these incidents, or to report people throwing fireworks, to call them on 101.