James Sturcke
Wednesday October 31, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Police are hunting a suspect who set off up to 200 fireworks in a Bolton shop, injuring a 15-month-old boy.

The man, wearing a Scream-type mask, threw a box containing a lit industrial firework onto the floor of the convenience store before running off.

The firework set off scores of small rockets that flew around the shop spewing coloured smoke and sparks at about 9.30pm on Monday.

The shopkeeper managed to kick the firework into the shop porch where it continued to explode.

The man was unhurt but his 15-month-old son was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Police believe the firework was a Fantasia 218. Officers want to hear from any retailers who may have sold it.

"This was one of the worst incidents I have ever seen of someone abusing a lit firework and endangering lives," said Inspector Tony Kenyon.

"This was not a small firework. It could be described as an industrial-style firework with up to 200 repeat rounds so the risk of endangering life was very high.

"It was a very dangerous prank and resulted in a young baby having to go to hospital. Thankfully the injuries were not severe but it could have been tragic."

The incident happened at the California Wines shop on Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Some people seem to have marshmallows for brains.....fireworks arent toys, they are explosives and have to be handled with care at all times.

Some people who try to be funny simply are not... Simple pranks can often lead to serious injuries... :eek:

Some people who try to be funny simply are not... Simple pranks can often lead to serious injuries... :eek:
Yes really...imagine if the fireworks had hit the child directly, "point blank", instead of from a distance, then this "prankster" might now be a murderer instead of just up on assault charges (On the slim chance that they find him).

I take it this is Bolton, England, correct?

yep...Waiching lives in Britain, and most of her newstories are from there (maybe all of them)

I take it this is Bolton, England, correct?
you are correct and yes, i live in england in the UK, as mikado has rightly said :)

Hi Wai!!! :wave: :D

sadly these days there are so many idiots, who wish to inflict hurt on others, they must think that it is something to joke about. it is not :mad:

sadly these days there are so many idiots, who wish to inflict hurt on others, they must think that it is something to joke about. it is not :mad:
I think shows like Punked and Jackass have something to do with it, these shows make sometimes dangerous stunts out as to be just funny little pranks....I even saw one show where they put someone in a plane and faked it going out of control; i do not see ANYTHING funny in making someone think they are about to die in a plane crash then hollering surprise, this is a symptom of something I find very disturbing in the psyche of modern "comedy"!!!:mad:

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hi Wai!!! :wave: :D

hi there from london! :wave:

What a terrible dangerous stunt.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
What she said. :mad:

Goodness this is so terrible. That idiot who set off the fireworks goodness dude its a 15 month old baby!! WTF is wrong with you!!!! Boy would i like to shove set fireworks off down this guys throat.

That is insane, fireworks scare me.

Goodness this is so terrible. That idiot who set off the fireworks goodness dude its a 15 month old baby!! WTF is wrong with you!!!! Boy would i like to shove set fireworks off down this guys throat.

Indeed. Some people are soooo stupid, you can't even call them stupid cause they're not that bright. I'd say the guy needs a significant "time out" (e.g. jail time). And a good swift kick in the a** would perhaps be a nice accompaniment.