Firework attack on disabled man

2003 -- Two muggers dropped a firework down the back of a disabled man's motorised wheelchair after he refused to hand over cash. The 50-year-old victim, who is paralysed down his left-hand side of his body, was left with minor burns to his right buttock, a sore back and a damaged chair after the attack.

He stopped on the riverside towpath to smoke a cigarette, but he was confronted by the two attackers, who told him to hand over his wallet. When he refused, one of them grabbed his top and tried to pull him out of his chair.

They could not move him as he was strapped in with a seat belt, so instead they placed the rocket down his back.

The men fled empty-handed and the victim called the emergency services from his mobile telephone.

Hunt for 'fireworks attackers'

2003 -- Police are hunting a gang who injured several people - including a police officer - in a series of attacks using large fireworks.

Nine men were taken to hospital with various injuries last night after fireworks were let off at a group of night-shift workers on an industrial site in Erith, south-east London.

About an hour later, a police inspector was injured in an explosion shortly after another firework destroyed a telephone box in the area, Scotland Yard said.

And earlier on Thursday a rubbish bin was destroyed in a busy high street at nearby Welling - again by a large firework. Police said nobody was injured.

A police spokesman said one of the shift workers had been detained in hospital, although his injuries were not life threatening. The eight other men and the police officer have since been released.

Chief Superintendent Robin Merrett, of Bexley police, said: "We are treating these incidents with the utmost seriousness and have increased police patrols in the area.

"I am appalled by these attacks and would stress the extreme dangers of misusing fireworks in public places."

Police believe the attacks are linked to a number of similar incidents in north Kent and are liaising with officers in the county.

Fireworks target lucky to escape serious harm

2004 -- Police investigating a fireworks strike through a car window that left a Kapiti teenager with a burn to his leg are treating it as a deliberate act.

He was driving through Paraparaumu Beach to his nearby home late on Saturday night when a firework came through his open car window.

He received a burn to his leg and his car seat was damaged but he managed to stop the car without crashing.

Detective Sergeant of Kapiti said the incident was most likely deliberate. "We don't have skyrockets and things that -- projectile fireworks -- these days, so for something to go through a window it appears to be pretty much a deliberate act."

He said it was only through good fortune that neither the man nor anybody else was seriously injured.

"There's huge potential there. He could have run someone down on the footpath...it's just an extremely dumb thing to do."

He said police needed information from the public if they were going to find the culprit.

He said since fireworks went on sale police had also had several reports of sparkler bombs being put in letterboxes.

Fireworks were also believed to be responsible yesterday for separate fires on Auckland's North Shore involving a kindergarten and a school.

Last night a blaze badly damaged Kindy Cottage Childcare after fireworks landed on the building's roof.

The fireworks had been let off in a small reserve next door.

And earlier in the day Torbay School had two classrooms damaged by a fire that firefighters say was probably caused by fireworks.

Meanwhile a woman, of Stoke, near Nelson, had her roof set on fire by children using fireworks on Saturday morning.

"I had seen the boys in the neighbour's backyard with fireworks and the next thing I heard a big bang as one hit the roof. I've always been a bit iffy about fireworks, especially being used in built-up areas," she said today.

The fire caused moderate damage to her house.

Motueka police said a 19-year-old Motueka man was arrested on Friday night for allegedly attempting to blow up letterboxes with fireworks "bombs".

The man's 16-year-old accomplice was also arrested and has been referred to Youth Aid.

"There's been a number of idiotic fireworks practices over the weekend. We urge greater use of common sense and consideration," police said.

 

Man Loses Fingers In Firecracker Attack

-- A pair of teenagers blew three fingers off the hand of a gas station attendant early yesterday when they slipped a lit firecracker into a cash drawer, police said.   The gas station attendant lost the index, middle and ring fingers of his left hand when a lit firecracker known as a "blockbuster" - as powerful as a quarter-stick of dynamite exploded.  He was working inside the cashier's booth. He had just sold two men a bottle of iced tea and had his hand in the cash drawer to accept payment, but instead of money, the men put the firecracker in the drawer.   They were both charged with first degree arson, second-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment.

 

Football pitch firework 'not attack on player'  2003

-- Police say an explosive device which landed near Shrewsbury Town's goalkeeper during an FA Cup tie with Chelsea was a firework from outside the ground.    West Mercia Constabulary said it was one of several let off outside Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow ground during Sunday night's fourth round tie.    Police initially blamed the incident on someone inside the stadium but now say they are sure it was not an attack.    A spokesman for the force stressed there was no trouble during the game, which Chelsea won 4-0.     The spokesman added: "I have to clarify there was not an explosive device thrown on to the pitch.   "Fireworks were released outside the ground. A rocket or similar item landed on the pitch.   "There were no incidents inside the ground and it was not a malicious attack."

 

Woman too scared to sleep

2004 -- A woman tormented by firework thugs says she is afraid to go to sleep for fear she will be injured.  She says every year youngsters gather on land at the end of her road and mess around with fireworks.

She said: "They are big fireworks, you should see the wrapping that gets left behind.

"This weekend, at about 3am on Sunday, they were letting off really loud fireworks and throwing them towards another block of flats.

"In the past I have had them thrown at my block and on Sunday they were also throwing them into a bin and then running over to look inside.

"It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured and it could be someone completely innocent.

"I sleep with my window open, and even though I am not on the ground floor, I am worried sick that they will try and aim one through my window, or someone else's."

She added: "I have lived here for 11 years and it's been like this every year."

Police in Redbridge are vowing to crack down on firework hooligans and will be patrolling with a firework safety unit from next week.

Osaka -- Japan
Homeless face ruthless attacks

2000 -- Early on the morning of Aug. 12, a couple of teens riding along on a bicycle drove up to the cardboard box city set up by the homeless and set off a dozen fireworks aimed at the vagrants’
village. An 58-year-old man escaped injury in the attack.

The Nojukusha Network, founded after the death of a homeless man, do their rounds in Nipponbashi. Network members say that from March to July this year, they alone have counted 44 cases of violence against the homeless, including attacks with fireworks, airguns and arson cases.