A teenager died after jumping into a greenhouse in amongst bonfire night chaos caused by 50 thugs throwing fireworks and launching rockets in a residential street. Qais Muhammad, 17, died in hospital after suffering fatal injuries trying to escape the mayhem that occurred over the weekend in West Yorkshire.
A squad of brutes arrived in Halifax and gathered in a residential street before the pandemonium ensued. The group lit a bonfire, began throwing fireworks and launching rockets from around 6.45pm, reports the Mirror.
Locals phoned the authorities and two police vans arrived at the horrific scene on Vickerman Street. It is reported that around 20 officers in riot gear and with riot shields then confronted the firework wielding youths.
In amongst the chaos, it is thought Qais fled into a property and climbed a 6ft wooden fence, not realising there was a greenhouse on the other side. Witnesses said he crashed through the glass and was left seriously injured.
The 17-year-old was rushed to hospital for immediate treatment but sadly died. A police cordon remains in place at the scene of the house where Qais died.
Locals say the thugs were 'not from the area' and were only there to cause trouble. Sadaqat Hussain, 37, said: ”These boys were not from this area, and were causing a nuisance.
“They were throwing all kinds of fireworks from about 6.45pm onwards. It was scaring many people on the street and the police were called.
"Two police vans turned up and about 20 officers in riot gear and with riot shields turned up. The gang of lads then started throwing the fireworks at the police officers and the police vans.
"It was very scary and like it was pure chaos.”
At one point in amongst the pandemonium the police attempted to disperse the group of brutes. Hussain added: ”I didn’t see it, but we know that one of the group ran away into a garden and after claiming a wooden fence landed on a greenhouse.
“He has then cut his chest on the broken glass and has bled to death. Two ambulances turned up, but there was nothing they could do for him. He had passed away.”
Another resident Waqas Mohammed, 53, said: ”It is very shocking and very sad. The boys who were throwing the fireworks were not from this street.
“They were here to cause trouble and maybe try and cause a confrontation with police. My neighbour was out and had not had her lights on.
"She was terrified the lads might put a firework through her letterbox, and asked her teenage son, who was at a party, to come home and look after her house. Police did not let him through at first because they didn’t believe he lived on the street, but he was let through.”
Another local resident added: ”I don’t know why this street was picked by this group of lads. It must have been organised for so many to turn up. They were not from around here."
West Yorkshire Police has self-reported itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), as officers had been called to the street to deal with a fireworks incident before Qais was found seriously injured.
A police spokesperson said: "Police were contacted by the ambulance service shortly before 8:15pm yesterday evening (Saturday, November 5) following reports of an injured male in the garden of a property on Vickerman Street, Halifax.
"The 17-year-old male was taken to hospital where, sadly, he died of his injuries. A scene is currently on in the area as officers establish the full facts of what has happened.
"The matter has been reported to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) as police were called to the vicinity due to a report of fireworks being set off prior to the incident."
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