As they fired fireworks at one another, a group of teenage boys were captured on video almost striking a Just Eat driver.
Shocking video footage, taken on a quiet residential street in Hackney, London, at around 10.45pm on October 31, shows the teenagers shooting fireworks down the road.
After spotting fireworks, the Just Eat delivery driver is seen riding around on his bicycle. He quickly stops behind the parked car and turns the corner.
As a teenager continues to shoot fireworks, a firework explodes near one of the homes.
Just Eat employees dismount their bicycles at exactly the moment when a teenage boy sails by them on a bicycle and fires a fireworks which bounce off of his delivery box.
The shocking video shows teenagers lighting fireworks on the street. It was captured on Hackney’s quiet residential street on October 31st, 2010.
He can be heard screaming at the teenage driver, before he cycles past him on another road.
The delivery driver keeps shouting, and other teens can be seen running down the same street.
Local resident who witnessed the incident, said the delivery driver was ‘incredibly close to’ being hit with one of the fireworks. She also described the teenage victims as’reckless’ and’selfish.
Their comments included: “I could also see teens on foot and bicycles shooting fireworks at each others in the streets.
“As if that weren’t enough, just a Just Eat delivery biker got involved in all the chaos and was almost struck by an exploding fireworks.
“Other fireworks were firing in front windows, exploding within gardens of residential homes.
It was dangerous, selfish and reckless.
“These youths showed no concern for their safety and total disregard for others who live or travel along the same road.”
The clip shows a Just Eat driver riding a bike around the corner and pulling over in front of a car. Photo: Teenagers making fireworks
A nearby resident who filmed the shocking incident said the delivery driver came ‘incredibly close’ to being struck by one of the fireworks, describing the teenagers as ‘reckless’
“It was an amazing miracle that nobody was hurt. Just moments later, children and their families began to walk along the same footpaths.
Their reckless and dangerous actions could have caused serious injuries.
It is believed that this year marks the third straight year of the event. There had been a lot of ‘frenzied fireworks battling’, and each year was getting more intense.
Although the incident happened on October 31, the resident said that firework fighting was much more common on Bonfire Night weekend. On November 3, 5, 6, and 7.
The participants also stated that they had moved out of the parks to the streets making it dangerous for both themselves and others.
MPs also debated an earlier in the month petition regarding fireworks sales and usage. This petition garnered over 301,000 signatures.
According to signatories, noisy bangers are a ‘distressor’ for vulnerable individuals and that sales of such products should be restricted.
The group wants only local councils licensed displays to proceed and says the move is supported by animal and human welfare charities. However, No10 stated that there is no intention to change the sales rules.
According to the petition which went live in 2013, the law currently allows fireworks to be used by the public for 16 hours per day. This makes it difficult for vulnerable groups and individuals to prevent the damage they may cause.
Firework sales can only be made to persons over the age of 18. You can set them off from 7am to 11pm. There is a midnight limit on November 5, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year.
They are already prohibited from being set off on streets, or other public places.
The incident occurred on October 31. However, the resident claims that there was more firework fighting on Bonfire Night Weekend – November 3, 5, 6, and 7.
Rachel Maskell (Labour MP for York Central) said she could be seriously hurt after young people set off a firework towards her as she returned from Parliament three years earlier.
When she pressed the Government for a blanket ban, she stated: ‘We need to remember that during this time year, our NHS, which has overstretched, receives around 2,000 injuries through its doors. 600 of these are children. There are 35 inquiries about burns, in connection to Diwali as well as Bonfire Night.
“And, of course we know that our public servants are often a target for those who use fireworks. Three years ago, as I cycled home from Parliament, young people playing with fireworks shot a firework at my face.
“It hit the ground within nanoseconds after I slammed on my brakes and it missed.” Who knows the history of what it would have looked like if it had hit as it struck the ground.
Ms. Maskell explained that every year that she bikes on the section of her route she fears what might happen.
She said, “Fireworks can be so easily found in supermarkets and other shops. That’s why it’s important that we have a comprehensive ban.
People can enjoy firework displays by having them put on by their local authority. This is because there are fewer emergency call-outs that are needed by the NHS and other emergency services.
“But it also can bring together communities, rather than what fireworks do now, which pushes communities apart.”