Fire Engine: The boy was part of a gang who attacked firefighters. Pic: © STV
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempting to steal a fire engine while its crew was battling a blaze in Edinburgh.
Police say that the unnamed schoolboy jumped into the cab of the £300,000 appliance and revved the engine in a bid to drive off from the fire at West Pilton Children's Centre on Ferry Road, Edinburgh.
He was one of a group of 30 children who ran riot at the scene of the suspicious blaze and pelted the crews with eggs. Some of the children are thought to have been as young as five years old.
The youngsters are said to have caused "havoc" as Lothian and Borders Fire crews battled fought to put out the flames on the afternoon of Sunday September 5.
Police are now investigating both the fire and the attacks on the firefighters after the youths fled the scene.
Lothian and Borders Fire group manager, Tam McGrath, 43, who headed the crew on the day, said he had never before suffered such abuse in his 23 years of service.
He said: "I'd never seen anything like this. Not only am I disgusted that these people put my firefighters at risk; they also threatened the public in the locality too.
"A number of people interfered with a fire engine and they could easily have taken the handbrake off and allowed it to roll down the hill.
"There was a lot of very challenging behaviour. The youths wouldn't be told what to do and they made things very difficult.
"Because we discovered asbestos in the roof, putting out the fire was extra complicated and this was made even worse by the kids running riot.
"I don't for the life of me understand why anyone would want to challenge firefighters or policemen doing their job."
Chief Inspector Denise Mulvaney from Lothian and Borders Police said the force have launched an investigation to identify others who were involved in the incident.
She said: "Assaults on any emergency service workers are completely unacceptable, and we will strive to identify and prosecute anyone committing these crimes."
It is the second time in recent months that firefighters have been attacked in Scotland's capital. In July hoses were slashed as crews tried to put out a blaze at the old Craigroyston Community High School, on Pennywell Road. Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said the latest attacks led to water supplies being briefly affected.
A spokeswoman said: "It was rather chaotic. We had a number of problems with youths who interfered with firefighting operations.
"To impede emergency workers in the course of their duties is an offence and the actions of these youngsters were totally unacceptable.
"What was particularly disappointing about this incident was that a number of adults who were watching the scenes made no effort to speak to any of those involved in harassing the crews or ask them to stop what they were doing."
A Lothian and Borders police spokeswoman said: "A police investigation is ongoing. A 15-year-old male was arrested and charged with attempting to steal a fire engine. Police forces were not attacked during the incident."
