Stratford: Teen arrested after fireworks set off at crowds
- Published
The Met said a teenage girl had been arrested and remains in custody following the incident
A teenage girl was arrested after fireworks were set off towards bystanders, including a woman with a baby, in east London.
Dozens of police were deployed over reports of fireworks being thrown near Stratford Bus Station at about 18:30 GMT on Monday.
A video on social media showed a woman with a baby in a pram appearing to be hit by a firework aimed at some stairs.
The Met said a teenage girl had been arrested and remains in custody.
Other videos posted on social media showed several police vans and a line of officers called to the incident.
Some videos appeared to show police officers trying to clear the area around Stratford Tube station
The force said a "significant crowd" of more than 200 people had gathered in the area and its officers "had to respond in full protective equipment due to the nature of the situation".
It added that there were no reports of any injuries, and police had arrested the teenage girl after she attempted "to let off a firework directly at them".
A spokesperson for Transport for London said Stratford Bus Station was closed for two-and-a-half hours, with 17 bus routes put on diversion or curtailed.
Newham Council Green Party leader Danny Keeling apologised to residents on Twitter, saying "nobody should have their own safety compromised".
"This is entirely unacceptable behaviour, this is a risk to life and a fire risk to homes," they said.
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Fellow Green councillor Nate Higgins called for fireworks to be banned from being on sale to the general public.
Mr Higgins added he had written to inspectors and Newham's cabinet lead on safety to ask for a council briefing on the matter.
Newham Council declined to comment on the incident.
Officers could be seen in social media videos leading people away from the area
Met Police Ch Supt Simon Crick said: "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."
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