Mob attacks ambulance in Poleglass

Published Sunday, 17 June 2012
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An ambulance has been withdrawn from service after it was attacked by up to 20 people during a call-out in west Belfast.

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Crew members locked themselves inside the vehicle while the crowd surrounded it, kicking and tearing off mirrors and causing over £500 worth of damage.

The ambulance had been called to Poleglass at around 10.30pm on Saturday following reports of a young person lying unconscious in the middle of the Bell Steel Road.

When staff arrived they found a teenage girl heavily under the effects of alcohol and moved her into the vehicle, to keep her safe while her parents were called.

However they then became aware of a crowd of around 20 people surrounding them, with two youths in the front of the vehicle.

"The crew was able to remove the two intruders from the front of the ambulance before returning to the patient and engaging the central locking while also calling for police assistance," a statement from the Ambulance Service said.

"Unable to gain further access, the crowd then started to kick at the vehicle, tearing off the mirrors that were attached and causing damage to the bodywork of the vehicle."

Police arrived and protected the patient and crew members, who were left shaken by the incident but returned to their duties after a short period of time.

Two boys aged 13 and 14 were arrested at the scene and later released pending further enquiries.

More than £500 worth of damage was caused to the emergency vehicle and it has been forced to withdraw from service pending repairs on Monday.

The Ambulance Service said: "NIAS would call on local communities to continue to work to ensure the safety of crews as they attend incidents that may require life saving interventions."

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14 Comments
Ryan in West Belfast wrote (364 days ago):
Absolute disgrace!! Simple solution - suspend ALL emergency services to any area that attacks emergency services (Fire/Ambulance) and very soon you will see the community turn on its own and the people brought to justice. Scumbags. I hope one day when they or someone they love needs help that their ambulance receives the same treatment.
great to see in dundonald wrote (365 days ago):
funny how people from both loyalist and republican backgrounds come together to condemn such attacks on our ambulance crews and nurses?
ash in belfast wrote (365 days ago):
their parents must be so proud of them. absolute disgrace
more jail time in belfast wrote (366 days ago):
its about time that anyone who has attacked emergency service staff i/e ambulance crews,hospital staff, police, should be given extra jail time if caught and put before a court?these people have a hard enough job without being attacked by the scum of society.
Sean in Belfast wrote (366 days ago):
Absolute joke. Hope the scum who attacked the vehicles actually get into some trouble with police and especially their parents.
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