Up to 100 teenagers ran amok ‘firing rockets at each other’ in Bonfire Night chaos which left a four-year-old child critically injured, residents say.
Locals – who regularly suffer fireworks-related problems – told how the violence was the ‘worst it has ever been’.
A resident said anyone venturing into the area risked taking ‘your life into your own hands’.
Police launched a manhunt for a masked yob suspected of letting off a firework which horrifically injured the youngster during the incident in Burnley, Lancashire.
Officers circulated CCTV pictures showing the youth, wearing a dark gilet and hooded top. He can be seen both with and without the mask he used to shield his face.
The carnage happened in the Elm Street area of the town, on a business park and open space.
One local, Riz Zahid, 38, said: ‘I’m not surprised someone has got injured. There were fireworks flying around everywhere.
‘It wasn’t just the little rockets we used to have when we were kids.
‘These fireworks were huge and they kept firing rockets one after another.
CCTV footage shows the masked youth wanted by police after boy, four, hit by firework
Colour CCTV still of the masked yob wanted over firework incident in town centre street
Youth wanted in connection with firework incident seen with his mask lowered
The suspect wanted by police over Burnley firework incident seen without his mask
‘You really did take your life into your own hands going on there.
‘It wasn’t just on the car parks. They were running around the nearby streets setting fireworks off. They were so loud!’
Another resident, Azhar Iqbal, 50, said: ‘I have lived here for 22 years and this year was the worst it’s ever been.
‘There were at least 100 teenagers running around setting fireworks off.
‘They were on the health centre and business centre car parks, firing the rockets at each other.
‘One group would set fire rockets off and then the other would fire back at them.’
He added: ‘It looked like they had some kind of launcher and were aiming at each other.
‘It was scary. They were running around the streets on Bonfire Night.’
Lancashire Police said the injured child remains in critical condition following the horrific incident on Bonfire Night.
The boy was injured in an area where officers were called ‘to several reports of anti-social behaviour involving fireworks’.
Lancashire Police urged people to come forward with information about the suspect following Wednesday’s incident.
A spokesperson said: ‘We are urging the community to do the right thing and tell us who he is.’
The force spokesperson added: ‘We are aware this area has seen previous anti-social use of fireworks but this year has gone too far, resulting in a child being hospitalised.’
Anyone with information is asked to email burnley.npt@lancashire.police.uk quoting investigation reference 04/189049/25.
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