Ambulance crews attacked during London riots
Rioting youths threw missiles at ambulance crews as they tried to help people injured in the violent disorder that spread across London last night.
Across the capital 22 people were taken to hospital, with many more treated by paramedics at the scene and more reported to have made their own way to the emergency departents.
The violence and looting, which was sparked after police shot and killed Mark Duggan last Thursday, also spread to other parts of the country last night.
London Ambulance Service director of operations Richard Webber said this morning: “It was an incredibly challenging night for everyone involved, but all the staff working in our control room, support departments and on the frontline worked very professionally to help us reach patients as quickly as we could.
“On some occasions, this was made even more difficult as missiles were thrown at our vehicles and crews were threatened and intimidated while trying to care for people.
“We will be continuing to regularly review the situation across the capital in order to ensure that we can respond to calls while maintaining the safety of our staff.”
In Birmingham, West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to 34 incidents related to the disturbances between 8.30pm and 3am.
Of these, 13 patients were taken to hospitals across the city. Injuries included lacerations and bruising to the head, a dislocated knee, general cuts, bruising and swelling.
Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Tracey Morrell said: “The majority of incidents have been as a result of assaults, but thankfully most have not been too serious. However, the fact that over a dozen patients went to hospital gives you an indication of the levels of injury.”
In Liverpool, North West Ambulance Service was on standby for a major incident overnight but despite reports of hundreds of rioters storming shops and starting fires in the south of the city nobody was taken to hospital.
President of the College of Emergency Medicine John Heyworth told Nursing Times he had not received reports of accident and emergency departments being overwhelmed by causualties as a result of the rioting, as the disorder had been confined to the streets.
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Readers' comments (11)
Anonymous | 9-Aug-2011 1:58 pm
Very Sad!
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Anonymous | 9-Aug-2011 2:03 pm
Lots of coverage and plaudits for the work of the police and fire crews during these dreadful riots. But let us not forget the sterling work often under taken in equally as difficult circumstances by the NHS ambulance services. Well done to all the emergency services and keep up the good work, it is appreciated. Your worth is truly known and admired by those who really matter: the general public.
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Anonymous | 9-Aug-2011 3:20 pm
Can we please stop linking the riots to the regretable shooting of Mark Duggan. The family who led the original peaceful protest have distanced themselves from the violence that ensued. You might just as well make cause and effect from my decision to put empty milk bottles out for the milkman on Sunday night.
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Anonymous | 9-Aug-2011 3:52 pm
Where is the evidence for this story which is being so widely circulated? Where in London did the attack take place, and when?
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Patrick Newman | 9-Aug-2011 4:28 pm
It is remarkable that there have been so few injuries given the scale and intensity of the disturbances on the streets. May some rioters prefer not to be treated to preserve their anonymity.
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Anonymous | 9-Aug-2011 6:40 pm
I noticed a delicate young angel opining that "they need to respect us, then we'll respect them". Bless! Some more DLA or incapacity benefit may placate them.
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Alan Murray | 9-Aug-2011 11:38 pm
Anonymous 3:52 PM
The evidence is in Richard Webber's statement. He's hardly going to say it happened if it didn't. It's a deplorable fact of 21st century life that ambulance crews are often attacked by those they set out to serve.
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Anonymous | 10-Aug-2011 2:08 pm
Thank you to all the brave workers tyring to do their job in what can only be described as a war zone. I hope the police take a zero tollerance approach on this in future. Get the government out helping, instead of making speeches from Downing Street!
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Anonymous | 10-Aug-2011 5:09 pm
I'm sorry but a vague statement that says missiles were "thrown at our vehicles and our crews" does not add up to a headline of "Ambulance crews attacked".
Was this deliberate targetting, or were the crews caught in the crossfire? Was it an isolated incident or is it a pattern?
Before we pour petrol on what is already a volatile situation don't we deserve some hard facts?
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Raniam Foume | 11-Aug-2011 8:58 am
The Metropolitan Police of London, known as Scotland Yard, have informed Twitter users not to incite further rioting in London. Unrest came after the shooting of a man by Scotland Yard, which has led to rioting throughout the city. Source of article: Weekend of London riots leaves city devastated by looting Violent reactions resulting to a demoralized economy.
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Anonymous | 11-Aug-2011 1:07 pm
The ambulance crews, police and others have been wonderful. However, to some extent it kinda goes with their jobs...What is interesting is where the injuries - most appearing to be fairly minor - and where they were treated.
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