Firefighters attacked in west Belfast

Two firefighters were treated in hospital after they came under attack by a group of youths during a call to a fire in west Belfast…

Two firefighters were treated in hospital after they came under attack by a group of youths during a call to a fire in west Belfast last night, police said.

A PSNI spokeswoman said the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service had responded to a report of a car on fire in the Springhill Avenue area shortly after 11pm.

The firefighters attending the scene were attacked by a group of youths throwing bottles and bricks and they withdrew from the area.

Two firemen received injuries that required hospital treatment.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI appealed for witnesses.  She said the emergency services provided a valuable service to all members of the community and such attacks put those personnel and the entire community at risk.

"People who carry out these attacks are effectively attacking their own community."

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