Firefighter hurt in pellet attack

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A firefighter has sustained a facial injury during a pellet gun attack on a crew in north Belfast.

It happened in Alliance Avenue after the Fire and Rescue Service was called to put out a fire in a bin just after 2100 BST on Saturday.

The officers were attacked by a group of teenagers, one of whom fired a pellet gun. The injured officer was not seriously hurt.

A senior officer said the potential for serious injury was "apparent".

The area commander for Belfast said: "It is sad that firefighters who experience so much danger in their normal duties are subjected to such a serious attack.

"However, I am reassured by help and assistance given to us by elected representatives from the area, to ensure such attacks do not occur in the future."

Sinn Fein councillor Margaret McClenaghan condemned the attack. "Attacks on the Fire and Rescue Service are completely and utterly wrong," she said. "This isn't a matter of fun. It's a matter of life and death."