An 11-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer at the scene of a major fire in Lancaster on Saturday, February 8.
Incident Details
The arrest took place near a police cordon on Parliament Street, where officers had sealed off the area to assist fire crews tackling a large fire in a new-build student apartment block.
According to witnesses, a group of around 15 children, aged 10 to 15, were verbally abusing police officers and disrupting emergency services as they worked at the scene.
Social Media Reactions
Footage and accounts shared online sparked outrage, with people expressing shock at the behaviour of the youths involved.
One social media user wrote:
“Absolutely disgraceful. These officers were there to protect people and deal with a major fire, and this is how they’re treated?
Police Statement
Lancashire Police confirmed the arrest of the 11-year-old boy and stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
A police spokesperson said:
“We were dealing with an ongoing incident when a group of young people began acting in an anti-social manner. One officer was assaulted, and an 11-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with this.”
The force has urged anyone with further information to contact them on 101, quoting the relevant reference for the incident.
Fire Investigation Continues
Meanwhile, the fire investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause of the blaze at the student apartment complex. No serious injuries were reported in the fire.
