Dramatic moment brick-throwing arsonists attack firefighters sent to tackle blaze they set as trap

Gang of around 12 youths verbally abused officers and threw brick at them
Engine was left out of action on busiest time of the year
Officers urged young people to go to organised fireworks displays rather than putting community at risk.

This is the dramatic moment a gang of yobs lured a fire engine to a street by setting a wheelie-bin ablaze and then threw bricks through its windscreen.

Unconcerned about the safety of their community, around 12 youths ambushed firefighters responding to a 999 call in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Now, the fire service has released CCTV footage of the senseless attack and officers have spoken out against such thuggish behaviour.

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Ambush: The firefighters had been called out to extinguish a wheelie-bin blaze – thought to have been started by the teenage gang

Decisive action: The fire service described the episode as ‘saddening’ because it put officers and the public at risk

Shattered: The violent attack sent shockwaves through the fire serivce, who had efficiently doused the flames leaping from two wheelie bins

Booby-trap: The incident was caught on a camera in the fire engine as it drove away from the scene

The firefighters were called to a wheelie-bin fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately, and quickly extinguished it.

But to their horror, a gang of teenagers then rushed at them, launching a brick through their windscreen and hurling verbal abuse at officers.

Mark Lee, who was driving the engine, said: ‘The fire was out very quickly but then suddenly the atmosphere changed. There was a gang of around 12 youths, who looked to be around 16, swearing at us and shouting before they started to throw bricks.

‘Obviously it was intimidating, but luckily we have a very good relationship with the police and officers were on the scene straight away to disperse the group.’

The officers, based at Heywood Fire Station, were called out at 5.08pm on Sunday.

Hooligans: Around 12 youths race towards the fire engine and the leader launches a brick at its windscreen

Dangerous behaviour: The fire engine was left out of action on the service’s busiest night of the year

Community-minded: The borough commander urged parents to be aware of what their children were doing in the evening

Nasty trick: Paul O’Malley (right) and Mark Lee, from Heywood Fire Station in Oldham, were in the vehicle when it was attacked in Rochdale

Paul O’Malley, a firefighter of six years, said: ‘The brick hit the windscreen and caused a lot of damage, but luckily didn’t get through. We knew we were quite protected inside but you are always thinking that you and your colleagues all have families you want to get back to at the end of the shift.

‘This engine belongs to local people and this kind of thing should not happen to people who are protecting the community.

‘These teenagers should be enjoying Bonfire Night by going to an organised display, not causing trouble.’

Borough commander, Tony Lander, added: ‘I am saddened when this kind of thing happens because it is not only threatening my firefighters but it is putting a fire engine out of action, which is putting the public at risk.

‘We would call on parents across the county and borough to check where their children are and work with us to stop this kind of thing happening.’

The incident left the appliance out of action during the fire service’s busiest time of the year.

VIDEO: Watch the shocking ambush on a fire engine here...