A toddler aged under two sustained a burn to her forearm that required hospital treatment after a firework reportedly thrown by a group of teenagers exploded beside her and her family outside a petrol station in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone.
Police said the incident happened at around 8.30pm on Saturday 31 October in the Main Street area of the village. A group of young people were allegedly throwing fireworks outside the petrol station when one device partially exploded and bounced back, detonating a second time next to the child, who was with her parents.
Police appeal for witnesses
Local policing Inspector McDonagh said: "We received a report that a group of young people were throwing fireworks outside a petrol station in the Main Street area of the village at around 8.30pm last night, Saturday 31st October."
"One firework which they threw into the road partially exploded and then bounced back, exploding for a second time beside a child who was in the area with her parents. She sustained a burn to her forearm, which required hospital treatment."
Inspector McDonagh added: "This little girl was aged under two and it's only by sheer luck that the consequences of this reckless act weren't even more serious. The irresponsibility of throwing fireworks near a petrol station is shocking."
Four teenagers sought
Police described four young men, aged in their mid-teens and wearing dark-coloured tracksuits, as being involved in the incident. Officers are appealing for anyone with information on the identity of those responsible to come forward.
Witnesses can contact police using the witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals quoting reference 1724 of 31/10/26. They can also call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
