Fireworks were shot at crowds of shoppers and police officers after a social media mob organised a “fireworks war” in Stratford on Monday night.
Shocking footage posted to TikTok appears to show masked yobs firing a rocket at close range towards a mother with a pram.
The mum turns her buggy to face away from the attack at the last second before a firework explodes just above her and she is engulfed in smoke.
A “Halloween Meetup” poster circulated on the TikTok site asked participants to wear masks, all black and to bring fireworks to the Stratford bus station stairs at 5.30pm on Monday.
Police said 200 people gathered at the busy transport hub before some began letting off fireworks at random.
A Met Police spokesman said: “While there were no reports of any injuries, we are aware of a video shared on social media showing a firework let off in the direction of a woman with a pushchair.
“Officers were not made aware of the specific incident at the time and neither the Met, nor the LAS, received a report of any injury to the child.”
firework hits mom and baby in stratford pic.twitter.com/jFZ8C3JH4W
— Bardi (@aaronsupper) October 31, 2022
A TikTok user posted a story saying “Everyone be there 5.30. Gonna have fun. (Firework wars).”
Other footage appears to show dozens of rockets being fired towards a patrolling police car.
Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who is in command of policing for Newham and Waltham Forest, said: “This was a very challenging situation and I am proud of the way my officers, supported by teams from across the Met, responded to restore calm.
“Sadly each year around this time we see incidents, often in busy public places, where fireworks are set off in a reckless way causing panic and risking serious injury.
“We were lucky on Monday evening that nobody – either the public or officers – was hurt. We saw from the video where a firework exploded by a pushchair just how real the risk of serious injury could be.
“I would urge anyone who has bought or intends to buy fireworks to remember their responsibility to use them in a way that keeps others safe.”
The poilce pointed to information and guidance about the safe use of fireworks available from the London Fire Brigade.
