Fire crew attacked by armed youth

Attacks on fire crews have increased in recent weeks

The Fire Brigades Union has condemned an incident where firefighters in County Armagh were threatened by a youth with a gun.

The officers were called to a fire at a railway embankment in Lurgan on Monday when they were approached by a number of youths.

One of them pointed a gun at firefighters' heads and throats.

One fire officer was traumatised and later went home.

People in a position of influence should do whatever they can to stop these assaults on fire crews

Tony Maguire FBU

Tony Maguire from the FBU, called on community leaders to use their influence to stop attacks on the fire brigade.

"Fire crews play a neutral role. We are non-offensive, non-aggressive and non-partisan in Northern Ireland," he said.

"We are only here to serve the public and to a large extent we can only serve the public to the best of our ability with the co-operation of the public.

"That means that people in a position of influence should do whatever they can to stop these assaults on fire crews."

The attack is the latest in a series of attacks on firefighters in the province in recent weeks.

Youths attacked a fire engine in Londonderry on Friday night and in a separate incident, a crew was attacked by stone throwing youths as they tried to put out a car fire in the Bogside area.