FIREFIGHTERS were pelted with missiles as a 40-strong gang of hooded yobs attacked while they attended a 999 call. The mob pelted nine firefighters and two of their £125,000 engines with stones, bottles and bricks while shouting abuse and taunting them. Specialist firefighting equipment was stolen from the back of one engine. The youths, aged 13 to 17, kicked the engines and lobbed missiles, leaving the vehicles covered in dents and puncture holes in an unrelenting 20-minute attack. Firefighters were forced to withdraw after being called out to a blaze in a derelict house on the corner of York Street and Lyon Street, Speke, at 8.15 last night. Three fires in the boarded up house were started deliberately. Sub officer Mark McCaig said: "It is disgusting. All the firefighters are just appalled. These are local youths trying to attack us while we are doing our job. "At first there were about 12 of them, then the crowd grew to 40. They all had their hoods up and were trying to steal things. "We have had a few incidents before but to come under attack like this is unusual." Suction wrenches, used to drain fluid, were stolen from a locker on the back of the fire engine. The wrenches have no value, and are of no use, to anyone other than a firefighter. Yobs tried to take more of the £20,000 specialist equipment that each fire engine carries but were foiled. The vehicles were kept in service but the theft has been reported to police who are investigating the incident. marymurtagh@liverpoolecho.co.uk | 
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