Patients at the Royal Liverpool Hospital ran for cover after flames were ignited in A&E.
Merseyside Police were called to the hospital just after 1.50pm on Monday, January 22, to reports a 17-year-old boy was behaving erratically. It was reported the boy had used an aerosol can and lighter as a makeshift ‘flamethrower’ to direct flames towards two men in the Emergency Department.
A video, widely shared on social media, appeared to show the boy walking towards a man on his phone in the waiting room and directing flames towards him. The man ducked and ran for cover from the flames, removing his jacket in the process.
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The boy then appeared to walk towards another man, using an aerosol can and lighter to ignite the flames for a second time. The flames were pointed towards the second man’s face as he tried to duck to avoid them.
Police said the teenager was swiftly restrained by family members and no serious injury was caused. He was detained by security staff and assessed by mental health nurses before receiving further treatment.
The men affected declined to make a formal complaint regarding the incident, police said. A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We don’t condone acts of violence or aggression and the safety of our patients and colleagues is our priority.
“We have provided support to the patients involved in the incident and the matter has been referred to Merseyside Police.”
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Robert Johnson is a UK-based business writer specializing in finance and entrepreneurship. With an eye for market trends and a keen interest in the corporate world, he offers readers valuable insights into business developments.
