15/03/2004

Firefighter injured in missile attack

An attack on a firefighter in west Belfast at the weekend has been condemned by the Fire Sevice.

Senior Divisional Officer Gordon Latimer said he was "angry and frustrated" by the incident in which a fire fighter was struck on the back of the head and knocked to his knees by a missile. The officer suffered bruising in the attack.

Firefighters were attacked with stones, bottles and bits of wood during the incident which occurred in the Divis area of the city at around 10pm on Sunday.

The attack occurred as firefighters dealt with an abandoned car which was on fire.

Sinn Féin West Belfast MLA Fra McCann described those behind the attack as ‘mindless morons’

“This is the second time in recent weeks that members of the Fire Service trying to protect life and property have been attacked in this area," he said.

“If these people stopped and thought about their actions they would see the valuable job that the Fire Service provide."

(MB)

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