PA Regional Newswire for English Regions
LONDON — Prince Harry has met fire crews who came under attack from rampaging mobs in Salford and Manchester during last week’s riots.
The prince heard first hand from firefighters who were pelted with bricks while trying to put out blazes started by hundreds of looters and rioters who torched cars and shops.
More than 300 fires were started overall as trouble erupted across Salford and central Manchester last Tuesday.
The Prince’s visit to Salford Fire Station included a meeting with Community Action team volunteers, a number of young people from the Salford Prince’s Trust team and fire cadets currently on a course at nearby Eccles Fire Station.
The 26-year-old was shown graphic footage of the trouble, taken by cameras on fire engines. He also posed for pictures and shook hands after speaking to fire crew on Blue Watch who were in the thick of the action.
Firefighter Max Murphy, 28, from Salford, said: “He was expressing some dismay really. He’s seen footage from the CCTV cameras, missiles being launched at fire engines, bricks, rocks, anything they could get their hands on.
“He was also expressing thanks for what we had all done.’'
Six fire engines were damaged in the mayhem, with rioters in Salford using nails in planks of wood put across roads to sabotage the efforts of emergency services.
Paramedic Neil Bruckshaw, 41, said it was an honour to meet the prince and get “recognition’’ for what they all did on the night of the riots.
He added: “I was born in Salford and I’ve worked in this station for 19 years. In my time I have not witnessed anything like that before.’'
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