Six people have been detained following violent disorder in Meadow Well on Bonfire Night, when a large group threw fireworks and bricks at police and damaged a building on Waterville Road that was due to open as a Heron Foods supermarket with flats above it.
Northumbria Police confirmed that officers had been "subject to attack" while five police cars and three fire engines were damaged. A car was set alight and reversed into the side of the building, leaving a hole and a lingering smell of burning. Bricks and what appeared to be a piece of playground equipment were thrown through the windows.
Police and Politicians Respond
Two men aged 25 and 27, a woman aged 27 and three male teenagers are in police custody on suspicion of violent disorder. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the mayor of North Tyneside, Karen Clark, condemned the scenes.
Ch Supt Daniel Whyte, North Tyneside's area commander, said: "The shocking scenes we witnessed last night in the Meadow Well were completely unacceptable. Our officers and fire fighters were met with violence, including fireworks and bricks being thrown at them and their vehicles." He added that the disorder was believed to relate to misinformation that the building would be used as a House of Multi-occupancy (HMO), which he said was not accurate; the site is planned for use as a supermarket with flats above for private rent.
Residents Describe Chaos
Residents shared their shock as bricks and rubble were cleared. One man said that without police riot shields, someone could have been seriously injured. Another woman told ChronicleLive: "I was aware something was going on, but not that it was like this. It's been wild here. I'd seen bits online this morning but this is something else."
Wayne Steven, who said he had seen what happened before riot police moved in, described "absolute chaos" and estimated there were "a good hundred" young people involved. He said: "I have lived here 12 or 13 years, I like it here but... It was nice but now you have all of this. This was worse than it was last year."
Misinformation and Previous Incidents
Kim McGuinness said she was "disgusted by scenes of clearly pre-arranged violence" and added: "These thugs apparently thought they were attacking a planned HMO, when in fact, it was destined to be a supermarket. This dangerous misinformation and the way it spreads needs to be tackled and the stupidity has to stop - there is no excuse for it."
The disorder follows similar scenes on the same estate a year ago, when fireworks were thrown and a young girl, Nevaeh Porter-Baggott, was injured by a missile thrown at her buggy, leaving burns on her face, hands and under her ear. Forensics officers were seen beginning an investigation in the damaged building on Friday morning.
