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Firefighters withdraw after being attacked with stones

Police Service of Northern Ireland A fire in a wooded area at night. Smoke is coming out of the flames. Trees are in the background.Police Service of Northern Ireland
Firefighters were responding to calls of a blaze in Colin Glen Forest Park

An MLA has described emergency services being attacked when responding to a fire in west Belfast's Colin Glen Forest Park as "unacceptable".

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) "were stoned and withdrew to prevent personal injury" after responding to the incident on Saturday evening.

"Officers from west Belfast Neighbourhood Policing Team attended a short time later and dispersed a crowd of juveniles," said a PSNI spokesperson. "Police discovered flammable material brought into the forest park, which had been used to set the fire."

Sinn Féin's Danny Baker said the behaviour "will not be tolerated".

A man wearing a grey polo top, he has black hair and is standing in front of a dark green wall
Danny Baker called the behaviour "unacceptable"

Baker also said: "Last night was just another example of the unacceptable behaviour in Colin Glen Forest Park.

"Fires have been set all over the forest and first responders have been attacked when responding to resident's calls.

"The forest is a gem and by working together we will keep it that way."

'A disgrace'

On Friday, the fire service confirmed its staff attended 1,112 incidents from Thursday 3 April to Thursday 10 April, 296 of which were wildfires.

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty said: "In a week where fire crews have heroically tackled gorse fires locally on Black Mountain and put their lives at risk responding to countless other emergencies, it is a disgrace that teams were attacked by youths at Colin Glen Forest Park last night."

He added: "I am making a plea again today for these attacks to stop.

"While the fire service are responding to incidents like this their attention is being diverted from more deserving matters.

"I would also urge local parents to talk to their young people and ensure they are not engaging in this kind of activity."