Gang hurls concrete blocks under cover of smoke from blazing cars Blocks of concrete and stones were hurled at firefighters after three cars were deliberately set alight on Monday evening.

Police had to protect the crews of fire engines who answered eight 999 calls from members of the public when the cars went up in flames in Watling Farm Close, Stanmore, just before 6.30pm.

Thick smoke from the blazing Ford Fiesta, Ford Escort and Vauxhall Cavalier was blown onto the nearby M1, causing danger for bank holiday traffic.

The firefighters were forced to retreat after children, believed to be from families of travellers who had occupied the area around the motorway bridge, attacked them with chunks of concrete, bricks and stones.

A gang of young thugs aged ten to 16 tried to stop the firefighters tackling the blazes by pelting them with a volley of missiles, and the crews, from Stanmore and Mill Hill fire stations, had to send out their own emergency call for help.

Police officers from the tactical support group based in Finchley cleared the area so that firefighters could continue their work. No one was injured, and the fires were o From front page

under control within half-an-hour.

Henry Ingham, regional official for the Fire Brigades Union, said that the attack was a rare and isolated incident.

He said: "It is very rare that firefighters in London are attacked. If violence was a problem it would be something which we would pick up on very quickly.

"I am not aware of any of our members in London being attacked this year, but I know that there are parts of the country that are bad."

Police made no arrests because firefighters were unable to identify the juvenile attackers through thick plumes of smoke.

"Attacking the emergency services when they are trying to deal with a dangerous situation such as this is pure madness," said police spokesman DetSgt Peter Ryman.

"No matter the age of the offenders, this sort of crime is inexcusable. We will strive to ensure that no such similar incidents reoccur in this area, and hope the people responsible get the message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated."

The incident is still under investigation and police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 0181 423 1212.

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