A street in east Manchester was turned into a ‘warzone’ on Bonfire Night, with a car set alight and police officers attacked with fireworks during scenes of mayhem.
Emergency services descended on Vine Street between Gorton and Abbey Hey as a large group of youths began to gather, creating makeshift barricades with mattresses and pallets.
The mob, of around 20 to 30 individuals, started an illegal bonfire with waste and a motorbike, as they set fire to a car and pelted TAU police officers and their vehicles with the fireworks, narrowly missing other passing vehicles on Tuesday night (November 5).
READ MORE Bonfire night chaos as police pelted with fireworks by huge group of youths in street
One eyewitness likened the street to a ‘warzone’ with smoke filling the air and burnt out wood and empty firework casings littering the residential street.
Dramatic pictures from the scene showed a car engulfed in flames, as tensions flared between Tactical Aid officers, fire service crews and the group of youths.
“Looks like a full scale war zone down there,” described one person on social media, as another commented: “They were at it from four o’clock. They barricaded the street off. I had to climb over pallets and boards to get home and wouldn’t let cars through, hurling fireworks and wood and bricks at cars.”
Another resident claimed ‘kids were throwing them at each other’ as families with young children made their way down the street.
Other pictures from the scene showed a number of police vans in attendance in attempt to bring the situation under control, disperse the crowds and put out the illegal bonfire.
It is thought a number of innocent motorists were caught up in the crossfire as the flares were lit and thrown towards police vans on Tuesday night. Trouble developed throughout the evening after crews were first called out shortly after 4.30pm before crowds were dispersed.
Police later confirmed that three teenagers, aged between 16 and 18, were arrested on suspicion of causing violent disorder. The force said they responded to a ‘large group of young people lighting a fire on waste ground and throwing fireworks and missiles, causing disorder and damage’ on Vine Street just after 4.15pm.
Superintendent Richard McNamara of GMP’s City of Manchester North District said: “As part of our planned operational response to Bonfire night, to safeguard communities, police patrols were quickly deployed to Vine Street within minutes of the report being made to us and the incident quickly dealt with and targeted arrests made to stop escalation.
“We know incidents like this will rightly cause concern to members of the local community and those people who enjoyed Bonfire Night safely – I want to reassure the public that this is an isolated incident, which was dealt with very quickly by local neighbourhood officers with assistance from officers from our Specialist Operations branch, who brought the incident to a safe conclusion. We have also worked alongside our partners in the area throughout the evening by deploying joint patrols with youth services and colleagues in the fire service.
“Thankfully, there were no reported injuries made to us and despite fireworks being aimed at our officers, I am also pleased to say that no officers were injured.
“It is shocking that we are seeing fireworks being used as a weapon towards emergency services as they try and keep our communities safe.
“A thorough investigation is underway, and while we have made three arrests in connection with this incident, further arrests will follow. Investigating officers are pursuing several lines of enquiry that will ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.”
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Shortly after 4:35pm this evening (Tuesday 5 November) two fire engines from Blackley and Gorton fire stations were called to reports of a dangerous bonfire on Vine Street, Manchester.
“With the support of Greater Manchester Police crews were able to bring the area under control and extinguish the fire. Firefighters were in attendance for around an hour”
It comes as emergency services were put on high alert across Halloween and Bonfire Night, with police and fire crews on hand to tackle incidents of anti-social behaviour erupting across the region.
Officers were said to be out on patrol in ‘hotspot areas’ to tackle issues including nuisance fireworks, fires and crowds. Specialist resources are also on hand to be deployed.
Anyone with any information can contact police on 101 quoting incident number 2294 of 5/11/24. Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
