Police investigating incident that saw firefighters attacked

Police in North Belfast are investigating an incident on Friday night that saw two firefighters injured.

It was reported that at around 8.30pm, as a man sat in a parked Vauxhall Astra car on the New Lodge Road near the junction with Bruslee Way, he was pulled from the vehicle by two males who then drove off in his car.

The car was then driven a short distance away and set alight.

The owner of the car was not injured as a result of this incident, however, fire service personnel attending the scene of the fire were attacked by a crowd of stone throwing youths leaving two firefighters injured.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to contact police. Information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sinn Féin JJ Magee criticised the youths who attacked and injured the fire fighters. Councillor Magee said: “This was a vicious attack on fire fighters called to the aid of the New Lodge community last night.

“The Fire and Rescue Service work day and daily to protect the community and my thoughts are with the two fire fighters injured and I hope that they make a full and quick recovery,

“The New Lodge is a good community that has been through a lot and this small number of anti-community criminal elements are in no way representative of the vast majority of our young people

“I would appeal for anyone involving themselves with such activity to reflect today that it could be your family in need of rescue by emergency services and such disgraceful actions put lives at risk.

“Those responsible for this attack should be arrested and brought before the courts and I would appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward.”